
■■' 




IBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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Chap.-..- Copyright No.. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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189. 



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CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN. 



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TALKS ABOUT JESUS 



*oWITH^ 



OUR LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. 




Childhood shows the man 
As morning shows the day. 

— Milton. 

BY 
MRS. ANNIE RANDALL WHITE, 

Author of "Bible Story Land," "Polite Society," and formerly editor "Young Folk- Monthly." 



ARTISTICALLY ILLUSTRATED BY THE CELEBRATED ARTISTS. 
H. HOFMANN, PROF. PLOCKHORST AND GEORGF HAHN 



JUVENILE PUBLISHING CQ 




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1287 



Copyrighted, 1897, by 
K. T. BORLAND. 









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INTRODUCTION. 

C . 

The study of the great truths of the Bible has ever been a 
most delightful and instructive one to those who, taking that 
best of all books for a guide, desire earnestly to follow its 
teachings. 

Children should be taught early to explore its pages, that 
they may imbibe those lessons of gentleness and self-denial that 
will round out their characters, and fit them to lead useful lives. 

In no surer way can they receive this assistance than by a 
close study of the life of our Blessed Saviour. It is the desire 
of the author to give such a concise history of His life and 
teachings as would be of interest to even the youngest reader. 
And while adhering strictly to the acts of our Lord during His 
brief earthly life, it has been the aim to clothe His sayings in 
language so simple as to bring it within the understanding of 
the smallest child who reads these pages. 

And while we are confident that it will fulfil its mission of 
teaching the young to love and attempt to imitate that grand 
life, we feel that parents and teachers will receive helpful hints 
from this Story of the Saviour. 

And even though so grand a theme may have been very im- 
perfectly dealt with, we commit the work to those for whom it 
was written, with the earnest hope that it may accomplish its 
intention— to do good, and awaken a stronger desire to live 
better lives. 

The Author. 



GENERAL INDEX. 



CHAPTER I. 
II. 



III. 

IV." 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII.. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 

XXVI. 

XXVII. 

XXVIII. 



Mary, the Mother of Jesus 19 

The Birth of Our Saviour 22 

Presenting the Babe in the Temple 30 

The Boyhood of Jesus 34 

Jesus is Baptized 43 

The Temptation in the Wilderness 46 

The First Miracle s 50 

The Feast of the Passover. . 55 

Nicodemus 58 

The Woman of Samaria , 61 

The Nobleman's Son 65 

His Old Home 68 

Calling the Disciples 72 

A Sabbath in Capernteum 76 

The Sermon on the Mount '. 80 

Healing of the Leper 87 

The Palsied Man Healed — The Widow of Nain . . gi 

Raising Jairus' Daughter 96 

The Pool of Bethesda 100 

The Pharisee and the -Sinner 104 

The Withered Hand no 

Choosing the Twelve Apostles 114 

A Parable — The Storm 119 

The Demoniac 124 

The Death of John the Baptist 128 

Feeding the Five Thousand 132 

Many Disciples Leave Jesus 139 

The Tyrian Woman 144 



CHAPTER 


XXIX. 


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XXXI. 


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XXXII. 


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XXXIII. 


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XXXIV. 


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XXXV. 


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XXXVI. 


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XXXVII. 


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XXXVIII, 


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XXXIX. 


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XLI. 


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XLII. 


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XLIII. 


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XLIV. 


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XLV. 


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XLVI. 


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XLVII. 


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XLVIII. 


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XLIX. 


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LII. 



GENERAL INDEX. 

People Cured and Fed , 148 

Coming Sorrows 151 

The Transfiguration 157 

The Afflicted Boy 160 

Jesus Teaches the Twelve 164 

Jesus Teaching in the Temple 168 

The Blind Man 175 

Choosing the Seventy 180 

The Prodigal Son 187 

Merciful Acts 194 

Lazarus 201 

Going to Jerusalem 207 

Jesus Warns Them 211 

Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem 216 

The Last Supper 223 

Gethsemane 230 

Peter Denies His Master 235 

Jesus Before Pilate 240 

Judas Dies 246 

Calvary 250 

The Sepulcher 257 

The Walk to Emmaus 261 

Jesus Shows His Wounds 265 

The Ascension 272 



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"LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.' 




'♦OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN," 




HEALING THE SICK. 




CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE AT TWELVE YEARS OF AGE. 



And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent 
from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 
to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, 
of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary, 
and the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, thou 
that art highly favored, the Lord is with Thee: blessed 



art thou among women. 



Luke 1—26, 27, 28. 




CHAPTER I. 

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS. 

; ANY hundreds of years ago, the prophets in 

those days promised the people^ who were sad 

and downcast, that their burdens should be 

lifted; that God would send a Saviour, even 

his beloved Son, who would come to earth and 

save all people, who should look to Him for 

pardon for their sins. 

Many believed that what these prophets said 
would come to pass, and waited and watched 
earnestly for the coming of the promised king. 
And how did He come? In pomp and splendor, as would 
an earthly king, surrounded with servants ready to do his 
bidding? — in gorgeous robes with a crown upon His head? 
Far from it ! He was a glorious king, and the angels in heaven 
obeyed Him, and all the hosts of bright and shining ones, and 
yet He left all his greatness and glory, and came down to earth 
in the form of a tiny, helpless babe. 

'a a small town in Galilee, there lived a poor young girl, 

19 



20 MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS. 

named Mary. She was of a poor family, but she and all her 
kindred loved God, and tried to please Him. 

Mary was alone in the house one day, when a bright angel 
stood before her, and said to her that she was blessed among 
women, for she had found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 

When Mary heard these words, she was frightened. She 
could not understand what he was saying to her, and she did 
not know how to answer him. 

He knew what was passing in her mind, and he said very 
gently: 

' Do not fear, Mary, I am come to tell you a wonderful 
thing. God has chosen you to be the mother of a child, whom 
you must call Jesus, for He shall save His people from their 
sins." 

Jesus is a word from the Greek, and means the same 
as the Hebrew Jeshua or Joshua, Salvation. 

The angel told her that the babe should be called the Son 
of the Highest, and that the Lord should give unto Him the 
throne of David. And that His kingdom should know no end- 
ing, but last forever. 

Every little child that reads this book wants to live in that 
kingdom with the Lord forever, I feel sure. And all you have 
to do to gain an entrance there when you die, is to try every 
day and every moment to be good, and yield yourselves to 
God's will, and love Him with all your heart. 

And if you sin, as often you will, if you are sorry and ask 
God to forgive you, He will always do it, if you ask that for- 
giveness for Christ's sake. 



MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS. 21 

When Mary heard the angel saying these words she could 
hardly believe it could be so, and she said to him : 

"How shall all this be?" 

The angel answered — "God can do all things. He will 
send His Holy Spirit upon you, and the babe He will send you 
shall be called 'The Son of God.'" 

Mary listened to the angel, and said: 

•* I am God's handmaid. Be it as you have said." 

But when the angel had gone back to heaven, she praised 
God for His goodness to her. She went to her cousin Eliza- 
beth, who was quite old, and together the two women, the 
young one and the old, praised their Father in heaven for His 
exceeding goodness. 

Mary said, — " My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour." 

She felt the wonderful favor which she had been shown. 
How easy it would have been for the Lord to have chosen a 
great princess or some very rich woman to be the mother of 
the babe Jesus. But no, He passed them by, and took one of 
lowly birth. 

Surely she had reason to magnify the Lord. 

Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph. He was a 
good and just man. And so the Lord sent an angel to him, 
and bade him speak to him in a dream, and tell him about the 
babe that was soon to be born. 

And Joseph believed all the angel told him, and he did as 
the Lord had bidden him to. And when the child was born, 
Joseph gave it that name before which all nations shall bow 
the knee — Jesus! 



and the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I 
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all 
people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a 
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 
And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the 
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

Luke 2— 10, 11, 12. 

CHAPTER II. 

THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 

'0U have been told, dear children, all about the 

creation of this world, and how the people of 

those olden days lived ; what they said and did, 

and how they sinned and were punished. The 

wise and good men, as well as the bad ones of 

the Old Testament have been shown to you. 

Now I am going to tell you a story so grand and 

yet so simple, that it has made the world for ages 

glad to know it. 

It is more than 1800 years since that little 
child was born in a small town in Judea, whom the angel 
promised to Mary. 

And what He said would be, has been fulfilled. The 
Christian world has adored and honored Him in every way 
since. 

Do you know where Judea was ? In ancient geography it 
was the whole of Palestine, or the land of the Jews. Its boun- 
dary lines were constantly changing. It is more than five 

22 





BY H HOFMANN. 

THE WISE MEN— ADORATION OF THE MAGI. 




BY H. HOFMANN. 



_\ _^**»^ 



THE BOYHOOD OF CHRIST. 



THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 25 

thousand miles away, in the very heart of the Old World, with 
Asia, Europe and Africa lying all around it. 

It has two lakes — the Dead Sea, in the south, and the Sea 
of Galilee in the north. Over one, the Dead Sea, a veil of mist 
hangs always. Its waters prove deadly to every living thing. 
Birds and animals shun its desolate shores, and no man can 
bathe in its waters. But the Sea of Galilee, lying in a nest of 
hills, is a lovely sheet of water. Its shores are covered with 
rich shrubs, and long grass. Flowers grow here, that are very 
beautiful, and the birds love to build their homes near it. 

A very small country Judea is, not more than two hundred 
miles long, but it has a fame that will belong to it forever, 
for here our blessed Lord was born. The land is fruitful. 
Wheat and barley and grapes grow in abundance, and figs and 
pomegranates bear richly. 

Moses said of this land, that it was "a land which the Lord 
thy God careth for." 

Its climate was soft ana mild ; the skies were always blue 
and cloudless, and the moisture that made the earth rich, came 
in the form of dew. 

Here the infant Jesus was born, and here He lived during 
His stay on earth. 

At the time of our Saviour's birth the Holy Land was divided 
into three provinces. The southern one was called Judea, 
and its chief city was Jerusalem, the " Holy City." The Jews 
had built a fine and costly temple here. The northern part was 
named Galilee. The men who lived here were rough and 
strong, and worked very hard to get enough to eat and wear. 



26 THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 

Between these two countries lay Samaria. The men and 
women who dwelt here, were not friendly and kind. They had 
married among the Jews a great deal. 

The Samaritans were very anxious to become one nation 
with the Jews, but that people would not allow such a thing to 
take place, for they were very proud, and did not like the peo- 
ple of Samaria, who were so different from themselves. 

All the people who lived in these places were sad and 
oppressed. They had to pay very heavy taxes to Herod, and 
they were very discontented. Their prophets had long before 
promised that a king should arise of the House of David, who 
should be their deliverer from these cruelties under which they 
were made so unhappy. 

So they whispered among themselves, about this joyful 
promise, and waited for His coming. 

And now a strange thing happened. Some shepherds who 
were watching their flocks by night in the open fields some six 
miles east of Bethlehem, saw a light so bright and strong that 
it seemed as though the sun were shining. 

But it was night, and it made them feel timid, and wonder 
what it meant to see a light so vivid, when it was usually so 
dark. 

They were growing more frightened, when suddenly an 
angel stood before them, who saw how they trembled, and 
he spoke quickly to them. 

" Fear not," he said, "for behold I bring you good tidings of 
great joy. For unto you is born this day in the city of David 
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." 



THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 27 

Then the shepherds believed at once, and they sought to 
nnd the place where this great king was to be born. 

And now another wonderful thing took place. A beautiful 
star, high up in the sky, lighted their way. They followed its 
rays, and commenced their search for the lowly manger which 
tney were told was to be the birthplace of a heavenly king. 

And when the angels had gone away, the shepherds said, 
" Let us go now to Bethlehem, and see if this thing has come to 
pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 

And they hastened to Bethlehem, and there they found 
Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 

In those days there were wise men. Men who had studied 
the stars, and the sciences ; they were not only wise but 
wealthy, and could spend all their lives in study, for they did 
not have to work as did those who were poor. 

Among the travelers who came to Jerusalem about this 
time, were three wise men, who had also seen a star in the 
East, which was a token of the birth of a Saviour, and they 
made this journey for the purpose of doing Him homage. 

Herod's heart was troubled, for he was king of Judea, and 
although he was seventy years old, still he was not ready to 
give up his throne. Besides, he was a wicked tyrant, jealous 
and suspicious, and he feared he should lose his power. He 
sent for his chief priests and scribes to come and talk to him, 
and when they were in his presence he asked them where this 
royal babe was to be born. He wanted to learn all he could 
about Him. 

They did not quiet his fears much, for they told him that 



28 THE BIRTH OF OUR S AVIOUR. 

the child was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for the 
prophets had so written, long before. 

Herod did not want any one to know how alarmed he was, 
and yet he wished to know all he could about this babe, so he 
sent secretly for the three wise men. He asked them to tell 
him all they knew. He talked in such a pleasant manner that 
they believed he was really anxious to worship the young prince 
also. They must have thought he was kind and good, or else 
they would not have answered all his questions so freely. 

Herod inquired what time the star appeared. And he sent 
them to find this child, and told them to come back at once, 
and tell him where he was, so that he, too, might go and wor- 
ship him. 

Herod did not mean to honor the infant Jesus. He had 
very wicked intentions toward Him. But the wise men had 
faith in him, and started on their journey, guided by the star, 
which went before them until it stood over the place where 
the babe lay, which was a manger in a stable. 

They entered this dreary place, and fell down and wor- 
shiped the babe, and offered Him their costly gifts of gold, and 
frankincense and myrrh. They knew the future glorious King 
of the Jews. They had found Him, and they bowed in adora- 
tion before Him. 

They were about to return to Herod to carry the glad tid- 
ings, for they had not yet learned how treacherous he was, but 
God had other plans for them. He warned them in a dream 
not to go back to the king, for he would do the young child 
harm, so they returned to their own country by another road, 



THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 29 

God sent an angel to Joseph, the babe's father, and warned 
him also of Herod's wicked designs, and commanded him to 
take the child and its mother and flee into Egypt, and stay there 
until He came to him again, for that Herod would kill the babe 
if he found it. 

So they fled by night, and Herod was so angry because he 
could not find where Jesus was, that he issued a dreadful 
order, which was to kill all the male children in Bethlehem and 
all the coasts around, under two years old. Not one was to 
be left alive ! 

When the evil spirit gets possession of a man, what terri- * 
ble deeds he will do ! Herod listened to Satan, and murdered 
all those innocent babes, and brought sorrow into so many 
homes, hoping that by this means he would slay the infant 
Jesus. 

Thus the prophesy of Jeremy was fulfilled — "In Rama was 
there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourn- 
ing; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be com- 
forted, because they are not." 

But Herod died, and an angel appeared again to Joseph in a 
dream and told him to go back to the land of Israel. Though 
he trusted the angel, still he feared for the child's safety when 
he heard that Archelaus, the son of Herod, reigned in Judea, 
so he went into Galilee, to a city called Nazareth, thus helping 
to fulfill the prophets' words when they said, "He shall be 
called a Nazarene." 



And when the days of her purification according to the 
law of Moses, were accomplished, they brought him to 
Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. , 

And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said 
in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two 
young pigeons. 

Luke 2—22, 24. 





CHAPTER III. 



PRESENTING THE BABE IN THE TEMPLE. 



CUSTOM prevailed in those days by which 

the priests in the temple could claim a child as 

a servant to do the menial work in the temple, 

when he was old enough, unless its parents 

paid a ransom of five shekels. 

Joseph and Mary were poor. He was but an 

humble carpenter, and did not always have work. 

But at the end of forty days they took their babe 

up into the temple at Jerusalem, to offer up 

their sacrifice, and have the little one blessed. 

Mary's offering was two turtle doves. She was so grateful 

to God for His gifts that she went gladly to His house to 

thank Him for them. 

The priest who took Jesus in his arms to present Him 
before God, thought, no doubt, that He was just like any other 
infant. He did not know that he had held the Saviour of all 
mankind in his arms. 

While the parents of Jesus were in the temple, there came 

3o 



PRESENTING THE BABE IN THE TEMPLE. 3l 

an old man, named Simeon. He was a very devout man, who 
had prayed much all his life. 

The Spirit moved Him to go to the temple at this time. 
As soon as he saw Mary and her babe, his soul leaped with 
joy, and stretching out his arms, he took the child and blessed 
it, and sang a song of thankfulness that he had seen the prom- 
ised Messiah. 

He felt God's voice in his soul telling him who this babe 
was, for he had been told by the Lord that he should not die 
until he had seem Him. 

He was now ready to go hence, for his eyes had been glad- 
dened with the fulfilment of God's promise. This was the 
song he uttered: 

"Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace, 
according to Thy word. 

" For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation. 

" Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people. 

"A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy 
people Israel." 

Was not that a beautiful song of fervent praise ? 

And Simeon also blessed Joseph and Mary, and told Mary 
that her son, although He was the Saviour, would be talked 
against, and the people would not believe in Him. 

He also told her that the day would come when she would 
have a great sorrow, which would pierce through her heart like 
a sword. 

What did she feel when she heard this? Simeon knew 
what would happen, because he was a prophet. Those were 



32 PRESENTING THE BABE IN THE TEMPLE. 

people with whom God talked, and told them what would 
take place among men. 

He had scarcely finished talking to Mary, when a very old 
woman, named Anna, came in. She was over a hundred years 
old, and spent all her days in the temple fasting, and praying. 

She, too, knew the babe. She gave thanks unto the Lord 
for sending their looked for Saviour, and she spoke about Him 
to all those who were longing for His coming. 

And when they had performed all their duties according to 
the law, they took the precious child back to Nazareth. 

But Mary was continually asking herself, what Simeon 
meant by the great sorrow that would pierce her heart ? A 
thrill of dread came through her soul. She had been so 
happy with her babe, and had felt so rejoiced at the great 
honor bestowed upon her, that she had never thought of the 
coming days. 

But here was a hint that grief was to be hers, even though 
she had been chosen from among all women for a holy purpose. 

The child grew; day by day His limbs grew stronger, and 
He grew in wisdom and holiness. The Bible says, " The grace 
of God was upon Him." 

He was perfect, without one spot or blemish. Will you 
not try and be like Him, children ? 

When, however, the angel told them to flee into Egypt, 
because Herod was searching for Jesus to destroy Him, then 
the poor mother knew that Simeon had told her the truth, and 
that she was not to be perfectly happy. 

What a wicked heart Herod must have had to seek the 



PRESENTING THE BABE IN THE TEMPLE. 35 

life of an innocent babe. He was very cruel. He had already 
put to death his wife and three of his sons, because they had 
displeased him. So he would not hesitate to murder an infant 
whom all Judea had sought to honor, and who had been pro- 
claimed the future King. 

The hand of God fell heavily on Herod. He sent a terrible 
sickness upon him, which made him suffer both in mind and 
body. So great was his agony that he even tried to kill himself. 

When he knew that God would not let him get well, did 
he repent of his wickedness? No — Satan had full possession 
of him. Only a few days before he died, he had his son 
Antipater put to death, and appointed his son Archelaus to rule 
in his stead. 

Herod was seventy years old when he died, and he had 
been a king thirty-seven years, but it could not be said of him, 
as it often is of good old men, "He was full of years and 
honors," for he was one of the most cruel and wretched rulers 
that ever lived. 

That is why Joseph and Mary dreaded to go back to Judea, 
even though the angel had told them to. They knew this 
son was as wicked as his father, for during the passover week 
he sent his soldiers into the temple amidst those who were 
worshiping there, and they massacred three thousand of the 
Jews. 

This awful deed filled them with terror, and they went on 
to Nazareth. They could not go to Bethlehem, for the city 
was a scene of mourning; not one little child of Jesus' age left 
alive ! — all had been put to death by Herod. 



And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled 
with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him, 
and when He was twelve years old, they went up to 
Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 
And all that heard Him were astonished at His 
understanding and answers. 

Luke 2—40, 42, 47. 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 

>E cannot find much from the Bible of the daily 
life of Jesus while He was a boy. 

But we know that here in Nazareth they 
lived a peaceful life. The tender love and care 
of a gentle mother and a kind father were 
thrown about Him. Here He played with His 
cousins, the boys and girls of His mother's sis- 
ter, and the young people of the village. 

We do not think He had any brothers and 
sisters of His own, but these cousins were so fond of Him, 
that they all seemed like brothers and sisters, and were often 
spoken of as such. 

Here in Nazareth He went to school, and learned to read 
and write, for the Jews were very careful that their children 
should be made perfect in those two branches. The books 
He was given to study from, we can read to-day. They were 
the books which are contained in the Old Testament. 

He led a simple, happy, peaceful life, He, the King and the 

34 




THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 35 

Redeemer, whose death on the cross was to purchase pardon 
for poor sinners. It is a pleasant thing to think of those years 
of Our Saviour's boyhood, is it not ? 

Do you not love to think of Him, dear children, as a little 
child, loving to play and study, and frolic with other boys ? But 
you must remember that Jesus was not like other children, in 
many ways. 

He never sinned. When His parents gave Him a com- 
mand, He obeyed it at once. His mother never had to speak 
sharply to this beloved child. He played at her feet, and fol- 
lowed her about her household duties, and made her life 
happy. As He grew older He prayed often to His heavenly 
Father, and grew daily more gentle and loving. 

Though He went to school each day, with boys of His own 
age, and learned the same lessons which they did, yet He 
never became rude, disrespectful or disobedient. 

The most blessed years were passed by Mary in that little 
town of Nazareth, which lay among the mountains, in a little 
valley a mile long and half a mile broad. This valley was like 
a garden. 

Here Mary spent the happy years when Jesus was a babe, 
and she fondled and loved Him as all good mothers do their 
little ones. 

Here, too, she often held in her arms both infants, her own 
and the baby John, Elizabeth's child, and the cousin of Jesus. 
He was but a few months older than our Saviour, and was the 
one who preached or foretold the coming of our Lord. Mary 
was very fond of him also. 



36 THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 

Because' Jesus was once a child, He knows how Satan 
tempts even little ones, to be naughty. He loves children 
dearly, and loves to help them whenever they go to Him and 
ask Him to. 

It was the rule among the Jews that the eldest son, or the 
only son of a widow, must learn the trade of his father. So 
Jesus had to become a carpenter, because Joseph was one. 

Would you not like to know if He liked that irksome labor ? 
Or if He ever rebelled against it? He could not have liked it, 
because He had no time to think, and His Father's workshop 
was a gathering place for all the gossips of the place. 

But He never murmured. His was a kingly nature that bore 
even the most disagreeable tasks without complaining. He 
loved His mother very dearly, and this employment brought 
Him nearer to her in His father's workshop than He might have 
been had He had some other calling. 

Every year the Jews went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the 
Feast of the Passover. No matter how far away stretched 
their homes, no matter how poor they were, nor how infirm 
or old, they journeyed on past ripening fields, through the cool 
and shady groves, from town to town, their numbers ever in- 
creasing, sleeping in the open fields at night, and hurrying on 
by day, till they reached Jerusalem, where the feast was 
held. 

When Jesus was twelve, Joseph and Mary went with the 
vast throng up to Jerusalem, taking their boy with them. 
There were many other boys going up to Jerusalem in com- 
pany with Jesus, and how eager they all must have been to see 




BY GEORGE HAHN. 

I AM THE VINE, YE ARE THE BRANCHES. 




BY H. HOFMANN. 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA 



THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 39 

that city and temple of which they had read so much in the 
Scriptures which they had studied at school ! 

Herod had rebuilt this magnificent temple, hoping by this 
means to make himself popular with his people. While they 
rejoiced to have their splendid temple restored, they could not 
forget the many cruel acts of the king, and they could not love 
him. 

When Joseph and Mary reached the " Holy City " Jesus 
went at once to the temple. Here He spent his days, and saw 
the splendors of that house to which pilgrims came so far to 
worship. 

Once before He had been in the temple, but He could not 
remember it, for He was but a babe of six weeks. That was 
the time when Simeon and Anna had recognized Him, and 
hailed Him as the Saviour. 

A week passes very quickly, and soon the solemn services 
were over. It was time for them to return home. When His 
parents joined the other pilgrims on their homeward march, 
they thought that Jesus was with them. They did not see 
Him, but they believed that He was with some of His young 
companions. A great many relations and friends were with 
the party, and so they felt very cheerful. 

They had traveled the whole day, and evening was at hand ; 
they were going to rest for the night, and now they missed 
Him, for the first time. 

What a terrible dread seized them, lest, after all, the reign- 
ing king had learned that this young boy was the one whom 
prophets and wise men had named "The Prince of the House 



40 THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 

of David." Oh, that they knew where He was ! They feared 
the worst. 

You can tell how your own fathers and mothers would feel 
were you out in the dark night, lost. How much more 
wretched these parents felt when they thought that their child 
was not only lost, but that He had bitter enemies who were 
seeking His life. 

They went among the groups of young people, asking who 
had seen Him ; had He left Jerusalem in any of their bands? 
They had not seen Him, they suddenly remembered, for some 
time. Neither had any of the older pilgrims spoken to Him. 
Back they turned, heartsick, to the city which they had just 
left. 

Three days they searched before they found Him ; three 
days they endured of suspense and misery. They could think 
of no reason for his absence save that their secret had been 
disclosed. They thought His enemies had learned that Jesus 
was the child whom the wise men had traveled from afar to 
see, and that He had fallen a victim to their fury. 

But they found Him after three days. How had He lived 
those three days? Who had fed Him? We do not know. 
When their eyes fell upon Him, He was standing in one of the 
outer halls with the learned rabbis and doctors who taught the 
laws, and who were in the habit of assembling there to argue 
and dispute, gathered around Him. 

Jesus was the center of a circle of these great men, and was 
asking and answering questions so readily that they were puz- 
zled, and asked each other whence came His knowledge. 



THE BOYHOOD' OF JESUS. 41 

They had never met so wonderful a pupil. Why, He was a 
mere child, and His father was an obscure carpenter. Yet His 
answers were so wise and apt that they could not confuse Him, 
although they tried ever so hard. 

His mother's heart gave a bound of joy when she saw Him 
safe and happy, but she chided Him for the anxiety He had 
caused them. 

She could not help feeling hurt and surprised, for He had 
never given them any occasion for a pang of sorrow before. 
He had always been so tender of their feelings. 

"Son," she asked, "why hast Thou given us such anxiety? 
Thy father and I have looked for thee long, in sorrow and dread." 

At once a dimness came over Him. He knew it was His duty 
as a son to return home with His mother. A recollection of 
the hard labor and the poor home came to Him, and He was 
sad. But far more than all, He felt the time was coming when 
He should] be called to do His heavenly Father's work, and He 
wanted to begin to prepare for it at once. He said to His 
parents in a low, sad tone, — 

" Why did you seek me ? Did you not know that I must be 
in my Father's house ? " 

He meant that the temple was the home of the Spirit, and 
here He would love to stay and commune with the Father 
always. 

He went home to Joseph's house, however, even though 
He preferred to remain in the temple. Jesus had no thought 
of self. He was ever ready to do those duties which lay near- 
est to Him. 



42 



THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 



Nazareth again became His home. Eighteen more years 
He worked in His father's shop, while great changes took 
place. Galilee was still ruled over by Herod Antipas, another 
son of Herod the Great, but Archelaus had been put off his 
throne, and the country had been made a province of Rome. 
Joseph had died, and the whole care of His mother fell upon 
Jesus. 

Yes, the Saviour did not refuse to labor with His own hands, 
in that dingy little workshop. 

Meanwhile, the people were murmuring loud against the 
hard way they had to live, and many of them were looking for 
the leader who had been promised them — the Messiah who 
was to deliver them from their hard taskmasters. 




Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that 
Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 
and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove 
upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, 
Thou art my beloved Son, in whom 1 am well pleased. 

Luke 3—21, 22. 




CHAPTER V. 

JESUS IS BAPTIZED. 

\(S you were told in the last chapter, Jesus lived 
eighteen years more in Nazareth. 

He was now thirty years old. All these years 
had been passed in hard toil at the trade which 
Joseph had taught him— that of a carpenter. 

He had not performed a miracle, or preached 

to the people. He had lived a quiet, humble life. 

But the people were growing more wicked. 

Cruelty and wrong of every sort was being done. 

And still the faithful few who grieved for their sins and 

wanted the Saviour to appear, were looking longingly for Him. 

They did not know that He was- among them ; that daily they 

looked upon His face, and knew Him not. 

About this time a prophet was talked about, who had 
appeared in Judea. This great preacher was baptizing in the 
river Jordan, and men and women were coming from all parts 
of the land to be baptized by him. 

His fame was spreading far and wide, but he told the peo- 

43 



44 JESUS IS BAPTIZED. 

pie of their sins, and what hypocrites they were, and bade them 
repent, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand. 

This messenger whom God had sent, was John the Baptist. 
The spirit of God was in him from his birth. He dressed very 
simply. His raiment was of camel's hair, fastened only by a 
leather belt about his waist. 

His food was only such as the poorest people of that coun- 
try ate— locusts and wild honey ; and his drink was cold water 
from the river. 

People went to him in great numbers, to tell him of their 
sins, and how sorry they were, and ask him to wash them clean 
by baptism. 

He took them to the river, and baptized them, and told them 
that baptism was a sign that they meant really to give up all 
their sins, and that God would wash them clean if they truly 
repented. 

Then he spoke to them of the Messiah. He told them that 
he indeed baptized them with water, so that they would repent, 
but that One was coming after him, who was far mightier than 
he, whose shoes he was not worthy to untie. He would bap- 
tize them with the Holy Spirit, which would make their souls 
clean, even as water made thi^odies clean. 

Even though John was telling them of the coming of the 
Saviour he did not know that Jesus was that Lord. 

But God had told John that when he should see the Holy 
Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and resting upon 
any one, he should know by that token that it was the Saviour. 

l esus came from Galilee to Jordan, where John was teach- 



JESUS IS BAPTIZED. 45 

ing and preaching, to be baptized by him. He could have had 
no sins to confess, but He took the sinners' place. What 
it was right or needful for them to do, He would do also. 

Although John did not know Him as the promised Saviour, 
still he knew how pure and holy was His life, and he felt dis- 
tressed to think Jesus would stoop to ask him to perform this 
office, and he remonstrated, saying : 

"I need far more to be baptized by you. Why do you 
come to me and ask me to baptize you ?" 

Jesus said — "Suffer it to be so now. For it is right to do 
all that is commanded." 

On hearing which, John baptized Him in the river. 

The heavens opened, and the Spirit of God came down and 
lighted upon his head, in the form of a lovely white dove, and 
a voice was heard, saying : 

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

John was a cousin of the Saviour. He was the son of 
Elizabeth, his mother's cousin, and had been born to her in her 
old age, some six months before the birth of Jesus. 

It was a wintry day when this baptism took place. There 
could not have been many witnesses of the solemn scene. 
But when the sign which John had waited for, was given him, 
then he knew that Jesus was the promised Messiah, of whom 
he himself was the forerunner, and he hailed him as his King 
and Lord, forevermore. 



And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, 
and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. 
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those 
days he did eat nothing; and when they were ended, 
he afterward hungered. 

Luke 4—1, 2. 




CHAPTER VI. 



THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS. 

(FTER our Lord was baptized in the river Jordan 
He went away, alone, into the wilderness, to 
fast and pray. 

The wilderness was lonely and desolate. 
Wild beasts roamed through it, and howled and 
roared all night as they traveled in search of 
food. 

Our Saviour knew no fear. God took care of 
him, nor let them harm him. 
Forty day: and forty nights He dwelt in that lonely place. 
And all this time He prayed constantly, and no food entered 
His lips. 

But He was not alone, although he took no one with Him 
into the wilderness. One was there watching Him with evil 
intent. Satan was there. He knew who Jesus was, and he 
hated Him, and tried to do Him harm. 

He knew that if he could make Him do wrong only once, 
He would no longer be the Saviour of sinners. 

46 



THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS. 47 

He knew that Jesus felt hungry after His long fast, and he 
stood before Him, and said scornfully : 

" If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones 
be made into bread." 

He hoped that Jesus would be so hungry that he would not 
wait his Father's time to feed him, but would make a miracle 
on his own account. 

Jesus could have done it, had He wished to, but this would 
not have been waiting the will of His Father. 

So our Saviour answered him that " Man cannot live by 
bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the 
mouth of God.'' 

He meant that bread alone would not keep us alive, unless 
God willed that we should live. 

Satan was baffled. He hated Jesus because he could not 
get Him in his power, but he was determined to try hard to 
conquer Him. 

He then took Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, and placed 
Him upon a« part of the temple, so high that any one who 
should fall from there, would be dashed to pieces. 

He then dared the Saviour to cast Himself down. He told 
Him if He were the Son of God, that no harm could come to 
Him, for God would send His angels to hold Him up, so that 
He should not be dashed against the stones. 

What fair words these seemed. Would you not think that 
Satan felt sure that God would do what He said for His Son? 
He was trying to make Him yield to his will, and then he would 
have made Jesus sin against His heavenly Father. 



48 THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS. 

Jesus reproved him again out of the Scriptures : 

" It is written, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." 

Was the wicked tempter ashamed, and did he stop trying to 
persuade Jesus to sin? 

No, he made one more effort. He took Him up into a very 
high mountain, and pointed out to Him the beautiful lands that 
stretched away in the bright sunlight ; all the rich treasures of 
gold and silver those lands contained ; all the people that dwelt 
in those kingdoms, and the fair cities and peaceful villages, and 
then he said : 

"All these things I will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and 
worship me." 

Satan was telling a lie, as he always does when he tempts 
people to do wrong, and promises them so much pleasure. No 
one can be happy who does wrong, and he knows it. He 
wants to win their souls, and he cares not how much they 
suffer. 

Besides, God made the earth, and all that is in it. Then 
what right had Satan to promise it to the Saviour ? 

When he said those daring words, Jesus rose up in His 
might, and said to the devil : 

"Get thee hence, Satan! for it is written, thou shalt wor- 
ship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." 

Then Satan fled, in great haste, defeated and disappointed. 

And who do you think came to Jesus, and ministered to 
Him, after he was left in the wilderness, faint and hungry with 
his long vigil ? 

The angels came to him, and fed him. 



THE TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS. 49 

You see that each time the devil tempted Jesus, our Lord 
answered him out of the Scriptures. This shows us that its 
pages hold all we need to know of the right way in which to 
walk. 

Our Lord, even, was tempted. This was so that He might 
come closer to poor sinners who are tempted ; that He might 
see how sorely those He came to save are tried sometimes, 
and how hard it is to resist the nice promises that Satan makes 
continually to those whom he seeks to make do his work. 

Only one thing will answer as a weapon against the evil 
one ; and that is prayer. 

When you are tempted to do wrong, you need not think 
because you cannot make a long prayer, that you will not be 
kept safe. Three simple words mean much, and will ever be 
heard by your Father in heaven. They are — " Lord, help me!" 




■M 



When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was 

made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants 

which drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called 

the bridegroom — 

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, 

and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples 

believed on him. 

St. John 2—9, 11. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE FIRST MIRACLE. 

jHE next day, when John the Baptist saw the 
Saviour passing, he said to two men who were 
with him, 
"Behold the Lamb of God!" 
The men believed what He said, and turning 
back they followed Jesus. 

He asked them very gently, what they were 
seeking ? 

They said to Him — "Master, where do you 
live?" 

He told them to come and see. They went with him to 
His house, and spent the day with Him. After that they were 
with Him all the time. 

One of these men, Andrew, wanted his brother Peter to be- 
lieve in the Lord also, so he talked to him of his beloved Master. 
Peter straightway followed Jesus. 

The next day, as Jesus was walking on the road, on His 
way to another town, He met a man named Philip. 

50 




THE FIRST MIRACLE. 51 

" Come with me," was all He said to Philip. 

The man never asked a question, but followed the 
Lord. 

Philip had a young friend, Nathanael by name, and he went 
quickly to him to tell him about his becoming a disciple. 

Nathanael sneered at first at the idea that Jesus could be 
the one whom Moses and the prophets wrote about. 

" Why," he said, " Nazareth is a very bad place. Can any- 
thing good come out from there ?" 

You see how ready people are to condemn others for noth- 
ing. But Philip did not mind his sneer, and simply replied — 
"Come and see." 

Nathanael thought there would be no harm in going to look 
at Him, and so he accompanied Philip. 

As soon as Jesus saw Nathanael He called out: 

" See, an honest man comes this way." 

Nathanael said, — " How do you know me ?" 

Jesus made answer, — " I saw you under the fig tree before 
Philip called you." 

Nathanael doubted no longer. He exclaimed with joy : 

" Master, Thou art the Son of God ! Thou art the King of 
Israel." 

So he became a disciple too. 

The third day after, a wedding was to take place in Cana 
of Galilee. They always made great festivities of weddings. 
Sometimes the feast lasted for days. 

When Jesus came back from the desert He went to see His 
mother, but she had gone' to this marriage feast. So he fol- 



52 THE FIRST MIRACLE. 

lowed her to Cana, for He wished to see her very much. He 
had not seen her for over two months. 

As soon as the people of this little village heard that He 
had come, they sent him an urgent invitation to join the other 
guests at once. 

Cana was the native place of Nathanael, and he felt very 
proud and happy to think that his Rabbi, as he loved to call 
Him, would.be his guest during His stay in that city. 

Jesus went first to the house where the young couple were 
to be married. He did not go alone, as so often He had gone 
to other places, for His five disciples were now with Him. Yes, 
wherever He went, they would go too. 

You can all imagine how glad Mary was to see her son 
again. How much she had to say to Him, and how she longed 
to have the whole people know Him as she knew Him — the 
Saviour of the world. 

Wine was always used at all feasts and gatherings in those 
days, and when the guests were assembled, the wine was soon 
drank up. Mary knew that all the prophets of the olden time 
worked miracles as signs to the people. Then when would so 
good an occasion come as this for Jesus to work a miracle to 
show the people that He was from God? 

So when she learned that there was no more wine, she 
turned to Jesus, and in a low tone said : 

" They have no wine." 

He answered her, " What have I to do with you in this mat- 
ter ? My time has not come for me to work." 

He knew just when His Father's time was at hand for Him 



THE FIRST MIRACLE. 53 

to do His work, and He would not perform a miracle until He 
felt it was right for Him to do so. 

But Mary felt certain that He would heed her request. She 
knew that He loved to make every one happy around Him. He 
never turned from any one who needed Him. 

So Mary turned to the servants, and said : 

" Whatever He tells you to do, obey Him at once." 

Near Him stood six large stone pots, which were used for 
holding water. Jesus bade the servants fill these pots with 
water. 

And they drew water, and filled them to the brim. 

Jesus said—" Pour some into a cup, and carry it to the ruler 
of the feast." 

When the great man of the feast had tasted it, he thought 
it was the best wine he had ever had. He did not know where 
it came from, but he called the young bridegroom, and said :— 

" Many set out the good wine at the first "of the feast, and 
after awhile, they place the poor wine before their guests; but 
thou hast kept the best wine until now." 

The master of the house could not say a word ; he knew 
the wine he had provided for the company had been drank, and 
he could not tell where this wine had come from. 

The servants knew all about it however, and they told the 
story ; that Jesus had told them to fill up the jars with water, 
and then had changed it into wine. 

Every one was astonished. And we are sure that Mary was 
very happy. The disciples were" now more than ever satisfied 
that Jesus was the Son of God. 



54 THE FIRST MIRACLE. 

This was the Saviour's first miracle ; and was performed to 
give joy to a company on an occasion when all wished to be 
happy. 

Jesus had called the five disciples to His side, and they be- 
came His faithful followers, seeking wisdom from His lips, and 
learning how to do His will. These men were fishermen, and 
when He called them, He said — 

" Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 

They left their employment, and their homes at once, and 
obeyed Him. 

So He took them, and His mother, and His brethren, after 
the marriage feast was over, and they went down to Caper- 
naeum for a short visit, and staid there until it was time to go 
on their yearly pilgrimage to the Feast of the Passover. 




And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed 

it and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, 

Take, eat; this is my body. 

And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave 

it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 

For this is my blood of the new testament, 

which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Matthew 26—26, 27, 28. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. 

;ESUS now for the first time went up to Jerusalem 
with his little band of followers. 

John the Baptist, wearing his robe of camel 
hair, his hair grown long, and thick and shaggy, 
and his face tanned with the winds and suns, 
followed closely upon His steps. 

He listened to Jesus as He talked to the mul- 
titudes, with thirsty ears. This was to be John's 
last passover, although he knew it not. 
Jerusalem was full of strangers. They came from places 
very far away, and even from other countries. Every house and 
inn was crowded. Hundreds of people had to make tents of 
branches of trees, and mats of rushes, to lie down upon 
at night, for they could not find a house in which to 
stay. 

This Feast of the Passover was a very solemn feast which 
God had told the Jews to keep always in memory of the time, 
many, many years before, when He had rescued their people 

55 




56 THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. 

from bondage to a cruel monarch, and had brought them away 
from a land where they were treated very badly. 

When Jesus went up to the temple to join in the ser- 
vices, he saw a dreadful sight. There were hundreds of cattle 
and sheep standing in the courtyard, waiting to be sacrificed, 
while those who were too poor to offer up cattle, brought doves 
and birds. The cattle were disturbing the services by their 
lowing and stamping. Round the tables in the court of the 
Gentiles money-changers were sitting, with heaps of Roman 
coins piled up before them. 

These men were disputing with each other, no doubt. 
They were greedy and selfish, and went there to bargain and 
exchange money, not to worship. The clamor and noise dis- 
turbed those who were making the sacrifices. 

Jesus was very angry at the scene, and making a scourge, 
or whip of small cords, He drove out all the oxen and the 
sheep, and all who were selling them. He then went to the 
money-changers, and upset their tables, scattering the money 
all over the floor, for the men to stoop and pick up themselves. 

He spoke to those who were selling the doves — 

"Take these things hence. Make not my Father's house 
a place in which to buy and sell." 

Thus were the Scriptures fulfilled where it was said hun- 
dreds of years before, that one day the Lord would come into 
His temple and make it pure. That time had come. 

No one resented His scourging them. They knew they 
were doing wrong, and they slunk away, guilty and self- 
condemned. 



THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. 57 

Even the priests and Pharisees knew they had done wrong 
to allow the temple to be used for such purposes. But they 
were bolder than the men who had been selling, and they were 
too proud to let a stranger chide their practices in this way. 

So they joined together and talked it over. They could not 
bear to have a man from Galilee teach them their duty. 

They came to Jesus and asked Him by what right He had 
done as He did, They wanted Him to give them a sign. 

He would not give them a sign, but He prophesied instead. 

" Destroy this temple," He said, " and in three days I will 
raise it up." 

What, they thought, pull down this temple that we were so 
many years in building ! Indeed not ! 

They left Him, but they remembered His words. 

They did not understand Jesus' meaning. He meant that 
they would one day kill Him, but that He would rise again on 
the third day. 

Our Lord was willing to give them signs, and so He 
worked many miracles at this Passover, the fame of which 
went far and wide. It was in those days as it is now. If a 
strange deed was done, it was talked about by every one. 

These miracles made many believe that He was the Saviour, 
but still they were not willing to follow Him. 

And so He could not trust them. 



There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, 

a ruler of the Jews: 

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto 

Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher 

come from God : for no man can do these 

miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him. 

St. John 3—1, 2. 




CHAPTER IX. 



NICODEMUS. 



;HE wonderful things that Jesus did in the temple 
reached the ears of a man of great learning and 
power, named Nicodemus. 

He heard the other rulers talking over the 

things which Jesus had done, and how they 

hated Him because He was from Galilee. They 

said, too, that they did not believe that He was the 

Lord, no, not even a prophet. 

Nicodemus began to think of the miracles 
Jesus had done; of His driving the merchants 
out of the temple; of the many who believed He was the 
Messiah, and he grew very anxious to see Him, and speak with 
Him. 

But how could he go and see Him without the Jews know- 
ing it? How would it look to have him, the great ruler and 
teacher, go to visit the carpenter ? That would be too humil- 
iating. 

You see he was, although a very good man, afraid to come 

58 



NICODEMUS. 59 

out openly and do something, for he dreaded to be made the 
object of remark. 

But he would see Him ; that he was resolved. And so he 
waited until it was quite dark, and then he went out into the 
street, and walked to the house where the Lord was. 

When he went in, he said very humbly and sincerely : 

" Master, we know that you are a teacher, come from God. 
No one could do the wonderful things you do, unless God was 
with Him." 

Jesus knew he meant what he said, and He told him that 
no one could go to heaven unless they were changed. 

Nicodemus was not able to understand Him. But Jesus 
explained to him that the heart must be made clean, and that 
only the Spirit of God could do that. 

" Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom 
of God." 

Jesus talked of a great many things to His guest, and 
showed him how happy His teachings would make all men who 
believed in them. And when Nicodemus asked Him what He 
taught, He said His message to the world was : 

" For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begot- 
ten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish v 
but have everlasting life." 

Is this not a glorious message ? He gave His Son to die 
for us, that we might be saved in His kingdom forever. 

Nicodemus listened to every word He said. He believed 
now that this was the Son of God. And though he was a 
Pharisee, and a man of great influence, he loved Jesus ever 



60 NICODEMUS. 

after, and protected Him often from the jealousy of the priests. 

After this long talk with the ruler, Jesus went to the banks 
of the Jordan, where He baptized the eager people who flocked 
to hear Him. 

John the Baptist was near, and was also baptizing the peo- 
ple. But so many went to Jesus that even John's disciples 
began to fear that their master was being wronged by the 
new teacher, and they said unto Him : 

" Master, the one who was with thee beyond Jordan, and 
whom thou bore witness for, is baptizing, and all men come to 
him." 

John was a loving witness, indeed, for he told them at once 
that he never said he was the Christ, but he was sent only as 
the friend of the bridegroom, and he rejoiced to hear Jesus' 
voice. 

" I am of the earth, earthy," John said. " He that cometh 
from heaven is above all." 

John had been sent to foretell the coming of the Saviour. 
He himself performed no miracles. So the fame of Jesus 
spread, for as John said of him : " He must grow in renown, 
but I must be heard of less." 




There cometh a woman of Samaria, to draw water; 

Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall 

give him shall never thirst; but the water that 

1 shall give him shall be in him a well 

of water springing up into everlasting life. 

St. John 4—7, 14 




CHAPTER X. 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 



;HE Jews and their rulers hated to. have Jesus 
among them any longer. He told them too 
plainly of their evil ways. 

So He left the banks of the Jordan, and went 
down into Galilee. It was December, but not 
cold, as our winters are. It was rainy and warm. 
The Pharisees were beginning to take notice 
of the Saviour, and to feel very jealous. Why, 
they said, He has baptized more people than John 
the Baptist, whom they hated. Jesus did not 
Himself baptize the people, although His disciples did by His 
direction. 

So He went into Galilee. His way lay through Samaria, a 
country whose people were very cross to the Jews. Two 
miles from Shechem, at a little place called Sychar was a very 
deep well, so deep that its waters were like ice in the hottest 
weather. 

This well was called Jacob's well, and was sunk in a part of 

61 



62 THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 

a field where Jacob built his first altar to God. The bones of 
Joseph were buried here, also. 

Jesus and His disciples had walked a long way, and were 
very tiied and thirsty. So He sat down by the well, and would 
gladly have drank of the cold water, but there was no bucket 
with which to draw any. The disciples had gone away to buy 
food, for they had walked nearly twenty miles, and it was now 
noon. 

While He sat there alone, a woman came to the well with a 
pitcher. As she drew up the cool water, Jesus said to 
her: 

"Let me drink some." 

The woman was a Samaritan and her people were very 
rude to the Jews. She only said: 

" Why do you ask me to give you a drink ? You are a 
Jew. I am from Samaria. The Jews and the Samaritans have 
no dealings with each other." 

Jesus spoke so gently to her, and told her that if she had 
known who He was she would have asked Him for living water. 
And He would have given it to her. 

She talked with Him, and told Him the well was very deep, 
and He had nothing to draw water with. ' Where, then, could 
He get that living water from ?" 

Jesus said, " Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst 
again ; but if any one drinks of the water that I shall give him 
he will never thirst again." 

She wondered at this, but still she felt that He had some 
hidden meaning, and she said : 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 63 

" Give me this living water, that I may never again be thirsty." 

Jesus talked with her about her sins, and told her she must 
pray to God. 

The woman did not understand Him, but she thought to 
ask Him a question that He could not answer. The Samaritans 
had a temple, built also by Herod, on Mount Gerizrm; this 
mountain they called sacred, for they, too, were expecting a 
Messiah, who should come in glory, and so she asked Jesus 
which was the right place to worship ; on that mountain, or in 
Jerusalem. 

Our Lord made answer that there was no special place, 
neither on the mountain, nor at Jerusalem. He told her that 
God was a Spirit, and the true worshiper could worship Him 
anywhere and everywhere. 

What a happy thought, children, that in every place, in sick- 
ness and in health, in poverty and amid plenty, the good and 
the penitent can look up to God, and call on Him to help and 
guide them ! 

When the woman heard this answer, she was more friendly 
and gentle, and she told Him that her people were looking for 
a Messiah who would tell them all things. 

Jesus answered : " I that speak unto thee am He." 

Could that be possible? The poor, tired, dusty traveler, 
the Messiah? But she felt He had spoken the truth. 

Just then the disciples came back, and they wondered to 
see their Master talking with this Samarian woman. But they 
said not a word, only laid the food they had bought before Him, 
and urged Him to eat. 



04 THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 

He would not. " I have meat to eat, that you know not 
of," He said. 

The disciples asked each other if He had been fed by any one. 

But He made them understand that His meat was to do 
His Father's will, and to finish His work. 

He loved to do that more than to eat or drink. It was food' 
and drink and rest to Him, to work for His Father in heaven. 

The woman had left her jar at the well and hurried to the 
town to call the men and tell them that the Saviour of the 
world had come. 

" Come," she said, "and see a man who told me all 1 ever 
did. Surely He must be the Messiah." 

So the men of the city followed the woman to the well 
where Jesus sat. 

The Samaritans were more simple and pure than the Phar- 
isees. They did not care so much for show and pomp. This 
made their hearts more ready to believe the truth. 

When they heard Jesus teaching those things they longed 
to hear about, they begged Him to stay with them in their 
ancient city. 

He staid with them two days, and as He preached, great 
numbers believed on Him. Some believed because the woman 
said He had revealed all the things she had ever done. 

But far more believed on Him for what He said to them.. 
These said to the woman : 

" Now we believe, not because of anything you said, but 
because we have heard Him ourselves. We know that this is 
indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." 



So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where He made 

water wine, and there was a certain nobleman, whose 

son was sick at Capernaum. 

When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea 

into Galilee, he went unto Him, and besought 

Him that He would come down and heal his 

son; for he was at the point of death. 

St. John 4—46, 47. 

CHAPTER XI, 

THE NOBLEMANS SON. 

FTER two days more had passed, Jesus left 

Sychar, and went into Galilee, to Cana, where 

His first miracle was wrought. 

Here He found friends, for the Galileeans 

had seen the miracles which He did at the feast. 

They were very glad to have Him come to them 

again. 

It was now winter. The snow glistened on 
the mountain tops, the fields were brown and 
drear, and storms of hail and rain swept over the land. 

The weather was disagreeable, but that made no difference 
with Jesus. He kept on with His work in spite of wind or 

weather. 

He went at once to the home of Nathanael. 

In Capernaeum, which was about twenty miles away, a rich 
nobleman lived. This nobleman had a son whom He loved 
very dearly, who was so ill that all the doctors could not help 
him. They had done all they could, and the unhappy father 

65 




66 THE NOBLEMAN'S SON. 

knew he must die unless he could be cured at once. 

The father heard that Jesus had come out of Judea, and he 
said to himself : 

"This great prophet has cured so many people, that I know 
He could cure my sick boy if He will only come here and see 
him." 

He started very early m the morning to go to Jesus. His 
son was sinking fast, and he knew there was no time to 
lose. 

When he got to Cana, he went right to Jesus and told Him 
the sorrow he was in, and begged Him to go home with him to 
see his son, who was so ill. 

Jesus knew the nobleman had faith in Him, but He wanted 
to see how strong it was. 

So He said : " Except I do miracles, you will not believe 
on Me?" 

He answered, "Sir, come down, or my child will die." 

Jesus knew that He could cure the little boy at a distance 
as easily as though He touched him. He turned to the noble- 
man, and said : 

" Go thy way ; thy son liveth." 

So great was the nobleman's trust in God's power and 
mercy, that he did not hurry back to his own home. He had 
not a doubt that his boy was getting well, and he staid near 
Jesus until the next day, that he might hear Him preach. 

On his way back, he met his servants who came to meet 
him with the joyful news that his child was better. 

" At what hour did he begin to be well ?" 



THE NOBLEMAN'S SON. 



67 



They said : " Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever 
left him." 

The father knew that this was the very hour, one o'clock, 
when the Saviour had said to him: 

" Your son liveth." 

The nobleman from that hour believed on the Lord. And 
so did all his household. 

This was the second miracle which Jesus had worked in 
Cana. 




And he came to Nazareth, where he had been 
brought up; and, as his custom was, he went into the 
synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 
And he began to say unto them, This day is the 
Scripture fulfilled in your ears. 

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious 
words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, 
Is not this Joseph's son? 

Luke 4— 16, 21,22. 

CHAPTER XII. 

HIS OLD HOME. 

>ESUS had left Jerusalem and gone back to Naza- 
reth, His old home. Here He had played when a 
child, and worked in the little carpenter shop 
when He was a man. 

He had been away a long time, and though the 
village looked the same, He found many of the 
people changed ; some had gone away, and some 
were dead. 

Those who were there yet, knew Him well. 
He had often worked for them, and they were glad to see Him: 
once more, for they had heard of the wonderful things he had. 
done in other places. So they welcomed Him back. 

He went on the first Sabbath day into the synagogue, as 
was His custom. The Jews called their churches synagogues. 
There they went to pray and preach, as we do in our churches. 
As soon as Jesus entered the building, the book of Isaiah, 
was handed to Him to read from. The church was full of His 
old friends and neighbors, and every eye was upon Him. Their 

68 




HIS OLD HOME. 69- 

townsman had become known abroad. And they felt very 
eager to have Him work some miracle, that they, too, could see 
some evidence of His power. 

Jesus stood up, on the low platform where all could see 
Him, and chose this passage : 

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath 
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ; He hath sent 
me to heal the broken-hearted ; to preach deliverance to the 
captives, and recovery of sight to the blind ; to set at liberty 
them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the 
Lord." 

What a comfort such a message was to those who could 1 , 
understand it. 

He closed the book, and handed it to the minister, and sat 
down. He began to talk to them. He told them that He was 
the Messiah— He was the one upon whom the Spirit of God 
rested. 

They were pleased with His kind and gentle manner, as He 
said to them : " This day is the Scripture fulfilled." 

They listened with pleasure at first, and began to whisper,. 
" Is not this the carpenter's son ?" 

Their murmurings were heard by our Saviour. He knew 
they were expecting some great miracle. They were jealous 
because He had done so many marvelous things in other 
places, and none there. They thought they had a right to ask it. 

Their voices were heard saying in hoarse tones : 

" This is the son of Joseph and Mary. And does He dare 
to tell us that He is the Messiah ? We have known Him all 



70 HIS OLD HOME. 

His life, and His people. And does He think we will receive 
Him as our Messiah ?" 

Jesus said sadly, "A prophet is never accepted in his own 
country." 

Their ingratitude and doubts hurt him. But He reproved 
them for their hard hearts. He told them how others who 
were not of them had believed He was the Lord. 

He warned them that God would take away their blessings, 
and give them to others who deserved them more. 

They knew what He intended them to understand ; that 
they were unworthy of these blessings, and that God would 
punish them by giving them to strangers, who would appreciate 
them more. 

Then their anger grew stronger. 

" What right has He to teach at all ?" they said. 

They became mad with hate. They rushed upon Jesus, 
and even though it was the Sabbath day, and the house of God, 
they dragged Him out of the synagogue, and through the city, 
to the edge of a very steep hill. 

Yes, His old friends, who had known Him from boyhood, 
intended to cast Him down headlong. They would have been 
His murderers. 

They had asked for a miracle. Now, indeed, they re- 
ceived it. 

In a second He was gone, and where ? 

He passed through the groups of fierce men, and disap- 
peared over the green hills, where they knew not. 

They had driven Him away and would not have Him among 



HIS OLD HOME. 



71 



them. All the years they had been acquainted with Him, the> 
had never known Him to commit one fault. But now they 
sought to kill Him. 

The Samaritans, once strangers and unfriendly, believed in 
Him ; the Nazarenes, His old neighbors and former friends, 
cast Him out, and wanted to take His life. 

He never went back to Nazareth again. 



J 



1111 



iff 




And He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth 

unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 

And He ordained twelve, that they should be 

with him, and that he might send them fortl 

to preach, 

and to have power to heal sickness, and 

to cast out devils. 

Mark 3— 13, 14, 15. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

CALLING THE DISCIPLES. 

>HEN our Lord had been cast out of Nazareth, 

and had hid Himself from the fury of those 

who would have killed Him, He went down to 

the Lake of Gennesareth. 

You can scarcely imagine so beautiful a place 

as this valley was. Flowers were there of every 

color, and the trees were full of song birds, who 

warbled all day long. 

The lake was full of fishes. Many of the 
people who lived near, made their living by catching them, and 
selling them in the towns around. 

Jesus went down to this beautiful place to teach, and to 
-call them to repent. Many large towns lay round this lake, and 
many people came to hear Him, every day. All who had heard of 
Him, wished to hear this new teacher who had come among them. 
He proclaimed the good news that the time had come when 
the Saviour would save all those who repented of their wicked- 
ness, and trusted Him. 

72 




CALLING THE DISCIPLES. 7} 

You have been told of the fishermen who had become 
disciples of Christ — Andrew, and John, and Simon ? 

They had come home again, and were again fishing. They 
had become separated from their Master. The Bible does not 
tell us how, but it must have been when He escaped from the 
-wicked Nazarenes. 

They were sad without their beloved Lord. And they were 
made still more unhappy by some bad news. John the Bap- 
tist had been thrown into prison by King Herod. Nothing 
seemed to end as they expected and hoped it would. 

While they were busy one day, Jesus came that way. He 
stopped and bade them leave the fishes, and come with 
Him. He promised them He would make them fishers 
of men. 

He wanted them to leave all, and He would teach them how 
to save sinners, and preach the Gospel to the poor. 

When they heard that voice, they left everything ; their 
nets, their boats, their homes, and went to Him whom they 
loved, once more. 

Jesus went on with His work of love. He went into the 
synagogues and taught, and He healed the sick wherever He 
found them. 

Peter, and the others, did not see that it was our Lord's 
wish that they should give up fishing altogether. 

Jesus had been speaking to the people, and they pressed so 
close upon Him, all anxious to hear His words, as He stood by 
the lake of Gennesareth, that He could not move. 

Two boats stood out in the lake. The fishermen who 



74 CALLING THE DISCIPLES. 

owned them, had gone away from the boats, and were washing- 
their nets. 

So when the crowds gathered so close upon our Lord, He 
entered one of these boats, which belonged to Peter, and asked 
him to push out from the shore, and He would talk to them 
from the boat. 

When He had finished His sermon, after telling them of 
the joy which God has in store for the good, He said unto- 
Simon Peter : 

" Push the boat out into deep water, and then let down 
your net." 

He knew they had spent the night in their boats, and 
had not caught any fishes. And though He must have been 
tired, yet His first thought after He had done the people all the 
good He could by talking to them, was of His disciples. 

Peter's faith was shown in his answer : 

" Master, we have worked hard all the night, and have taken 
nothing ; but as you tell me to let down the net, I will obey." 

As soon as they let down the nets they filled with fish so> 
fast, that their weight tore the nets. 

And Peter beckoned to James and John to come and help 
him draw up the fishes. They came quickly, and both boats 
became so full of fish that they were in danger of sinking. 
Never had they seen so vast a number of fishes before. 

When Peter saw how great was the power of Jesus, he felt 
how little he deserved such a Master, and he fell at Jesus' feet, 
crying : 

" Leave me, for I am a very sinful man." 



CALLING THE DISCIPLES. 75 

The disciples were all astonished, at the numbers of fishes 
they had taken. 

Jesus said to them very tenderly : 

" Fear not. From this time you shall catch men." 

They now began to see that if they were indeed to become 
teachers of men, and true followers of their Master, they must 
give up all else for Him, that they might better do His work. 

They hesitated no longer. When they had brought their 
boats to shore, they gave up all, to follow their beloved Master. 




But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way, 

And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee 

and taught them on the Sabbath days. 

And they were astonished at his doctrine; for his word 

was with power. 

And the fame of him went out into every place of the 

country round about. 

Luke 4—30, 3l, 32, 37. 




CHAPTER XIV . 

A SABBATH IN CAPERNAUM. 

;ESUS went to Capernaeum, on the banks of the 

lovely Lake Gennesareth. While here He must 

have lived at Peter's house. 

He no longer worked at His trade, but went 

about doing good to every one. From this place 

He went back and forth to the other towns on the 

lake, and even up into the hilly country over 

Galilee. 

Everywhere crowds followed Him, some to 
mock and sneer, and some to believe and repent. 

He always went into the synagogue on the Sabbath, 
wherever He was. And every one who heard Him was glad, 
for He did not teach like any one else whom they had ever 
heard. And all received a blessing from Him. 

The first Sabbath He was in Capernaeum He went into the 
synagogue. While He was speaking, and every one was listen- 
ing, a great noise was heard. Every one turned to see who 
had thus profaned the house of God. The cries came from a 

76 



A SABBATH IN CAPERNAUM. 77 

poor man who had an evil spirit in him. He feared Jesus, and 
hated to hear His words. The man cried out loudly : 

: ' Let us alone. What have we to do with you ? You are 
come to destroy us! I know who Thou art. Thou art the 
Son of God." 

You see even the evil spirits had to own His power. 

The people crowded round Him, but the Saviour knew that 
it was the evil spirit speaking through the man, and He pitied 
him. So He spoke sternly to this spirit, and said : 

" Be silent, and leave the man !" 

At this command, the man fell on the ground, screaming, 
but in a moment he was well. 

The evil spirit had left Him, and he was once more in his 
right mind. 

How the people wondered, and whispered to each other : 

" What does this mean ? Why, He has power even over 
evil spirits. He has but to speak, and they obey Him !" 

As with His other miracles, their fame was noised abroad, 
and this last one was talked over in their homes, and on the 
street, and in the market places, for it filled them all with 
wonder. 

Jesus arose from His seat in the synagogue, and went to 
Peter's house for His midday meal. Here He found the 
mother of Peter's wife very ill with a fever. 

They asked Him to see her, and make her well. He went 
at once to her bedside, and with the touch of His hand raised 
her up, and she went about preparing the dinner for her son's 
guests. 



78 A SABBATH IN CAPERN/EUM. 

The news of the cure He had made in the morning had 
spread through the city, and every one, the blind, the lame, the 
sick, wanted to go to Him at once and be healed., 

The Jews kept their Sabbaths very strictly. They did not 
even let sick people go and be made well on that day, so they 
all had to wait impatiently for the evening, for the Sabbath of 
the Jews was ended as soon as the sun set. 

And then what a long procession of people, sick with vari- 
ous diseases, turned their steps toward Peter's home, all eager 
to be healed. Indeed, so great was the throng, that the holy 
book says that "all the city was gathered together at the 
door." 

Here the Saviour met them and cured them all, by either 
touching them, or speaking to them. 

What a pleasant thought it is, that He was ever willing to 
help. No one who ever cried unto Him, asked in vain. And 
as He passed from one to the other of the sufferers, laying His 
hand gently on one, or saying a cheering word to another, their 
souls must have been full of thankfulness. 

The Saviour must have been very weary, and He must have 
felt pain also, at the sight of so much suffering. For He felt 
for them most tenderly. 

He bore their pains, for we know He took all their griefs 
and sicknesses upon Himself. 

When the hour for Him to rest had come, He went away. 

But long before it was light, He passed out of the house, 
and through the town, and into a lonely spot where He knelt 
and prayed. 



A SABBATH IN CAPERNAUM. 



79 



He found comfort in praying, just as we can, when we are 
lonely and sad. 

The people sought to follow Him, asking Him not to leave 
them, but He told them that He was sent to preach good tid- 
ings to other cities, as well as to Capernaum. 

And He preached in the synagogues of Galilee. 




Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs 

is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they 

shall see God. 

Blessed are they which do hunger and 

thirst after righteousness: for they shall 

be filled. 

Matthew 5—3, 6, 8. 




CHAPTER XV. 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 



;HE news of all that had occurred, spread all over 
Syria. People flocked to hear and see the great 
prophet who did such wonderful cures. From 
every town and village people came to witness 
some of His miracles, and be taught by Him. 

When Jesus saw how many were coming after 
Him, He went up into a mountain to preach. 
For there was a place where His voice could be 
heard by many thousands at once. 

Here He seated Himself while His disciples 
drew near their dear Master. The people got as near to Him 
as they could, so that they might not miss one single word. 

He talked to them in this Sermon on the Mount, as they 
had never heard any one talk before. 

The smallest child can understand some things He told the 
people in this sermon. 

He called those people who were humble, blessed. He 
told those who had sorrows that they should be comforted. 



80 



V 







S3 



BY H. HOFMANN. 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 




BY H. HOFMANN. 



THE WIDOW'S MITE. 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 85 

The meek He promised a rich gift; and those who hated 
quarreling, and who used every one kindly, He said were also 
blessed. 

He told them that those who were ill-used because they 
loved goodness and feared God, would be blessed and upheld. 

" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." 

" Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." 

Jesus bade them be loving and kind to all, even to those 
who were spiteful. 

This is not an easy thing to do, but if you remember that 
Christ bade you be forgiving, I am sure that you will try and be as 
He wished. In your plays, think of this, and if you'are tempted 
to fly into a passion, or strike another child, or be rude to your 
elders, think of the many words of instruction in this Sermon, 
and ask your heavenly Father earnestly to help you do 
right. 

These words seemed to fill the people with delight. It was 
a very long sermon, but they never grew tired, but crowded 
closer and closer to Jesus, as He told them that God was a 
loving Father, who took care of them continually. 

To those Jews who listened to Him, this was a new idea. 
They represented Him in their teachings as an awful Judge, a 
stern and holy God, but Jesus told them how loving He was, 
and how He cared for the smallest and poorest creature. 

He said to them, " Let your light so shine before men, that 
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which 
is in heaven." 

He meant that they should not be ashamed to do good 



84 THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 

deeds, and that they should give freely of their store that they 
might bless others, and also do honor to God. 

And He also told them not to be worried for fear that they 
would not have sufficient to eat and to wear. He pointed to 
them the little birds that fly here and there ; they were cared 
for, and the flowers grew without doing any work, and yet 
even the great King Solomon in his gorgeous robes was not 
dressed half so fine as they were. 

If God cared for these things, He would care far more for 
His creatures who had souls to save. 

He cautioned them against unjust anger with their fellow 
men ; and He told them they must make no offering upon the 
altar, until they had cleansed their heart of all wicked feelings 
toward any one. 

The Pharisees were very proud and fond of seeming good. 
So they made very long prayers, and loved to have people 
think they were very particular in their worship. If they 
chanced to be in the street when it came time for a certain 
prayer, they would say it before every one who was near. 

Jesus knew that they liked to be called very religious, 
so He told the people who were listening so attentively, not to 
be like the hypocrites who prayed on the street corners and in 
the synagogues, so that all men should hear them. 

When you pray, go into your room, and shut your door, and 
pray to your Father in secret, and He will hear and answer you. 

Then He taught them a prayer, which every little boy and 
girl must have learned, for it is called " The Lord's Prayer." 
This is the way He wished them to pray : 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 85 

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name ; 

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in 
heaven ; 

Give us this day our daily bread ; 

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that 
ti^spass against us. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, 
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for- 
ever, Amen. 

He charged them to forgive all their enemies, and warned 
them that unless they did forgive, their heavenly Father would 
not fcrgive their sins. 

Remember this, when you find it so hard to forgive some 
one who has made you very angry. 

Jesus told all His hearers that every one who heard His 
words, and heeded him, was like a wise man who built his 
house upon a rock. 

And the rains came pouring down, and the water came like 
a flood, and the winds blew loud and strong. But that house 
was safe, for it rested upon a rock, and could neither be blown 
down, nor washed away. 

He likened those, however, who had heard all He said, and 
would not do as He said, to a very foolish man, who placed his 
house upon the sand. And when the heavy rains fell, and the 
waters rose around it, and the winds blew so hard, and beat 
against the house, it fell. And a terrible fall it was. 

Our Saviour is that rock. And all who put their trust in 
Him are safe against every enemy ; but those who trust to this 



86 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 



world, will find that their house was planted on the. sand, and 
will be destroyed forever. 

This beautiful sermon filled the people with amazement, for 
they had never heard the doctrine of love taught in their places 
of worship, and they went away, feeling that He spake as one 
who had a right to speak. 




And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, 

behold a man full of leprosy; who, seeing Jesus, fell on his 

face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst 

make me clean. 

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, 1 

will; be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed 

from him. 

Luke 5—12, 13. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

HEALING THE LEPER. 

;N all the world there is no disease so dreadful as 
leprosy. When a man is attacked by this terrible 
plague, he knows that home and friends must 
be forever given up. He may be very dear to his 
friends, he may have been very noble to look upon, 
his doom is fixed. He must bid good-bye to all 
whom he loves, and live apart from them all the 
rest of his life. 

It is not only a loathsome, but is a painful 
disease, and its victims suffer greatly. 

In those countries where leprosy is common, sometimes 
little babies have it. Oh, how a mother's heart must ache to 
think that she must either send away her darling, or go with it 
and live among the lepers. They are outcasts as long as they 
live, for there is no cure for leprosy. 

If a leper chances to be walking in the road, and sees some 
one coming toward him, he shrinks to one side, and covering 
up his face, cries out : 

87 




88 HEALING THE LEPER. 

" I am unclean !" so that the well person may not acci- 
dentally touch him as he passes by. 

When Jesus came down from the mountain, with the peo- 
ple following him, a poor leper who had heard of His wondrous 
power, approached near unto him. He never doubted for an 
instant that God could make him well, for he had heard of the 
miracles He had worked, and he thought if He could do such 
strange things, He could heal even him. So he went right to 
Jesus. 

The Sermon on the Mount had just been finished. All the 
commands to love all and show mercy to the wretched were 
still .sounding in their ears, and yet the people hurried away 
from this miserable leper, as he drew nearer to Christ. They 
forgot the lessons of love they had just heard. 

But he paid no attention to them. His eyes were fastened 
on Jesus' face, and he threw himself on the ground before Him, 
saying : 

" Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 

See what faith he showed. The Saviour looked at him with 
tender pity, and put forth His" hand, and touched his unclean 
body, saying: 

" I will ; be thou clean !" 

At these words, the four spots disappeared. His skin be- 
came clear and healthy. 

Jesus charged him to tell no man what He had done, but to 
show himself to the priest, and offer those things which Moses 
had commanded. 

The leper went his way, but he could not keep it secret. 



HEALING THE LEPER. 89 

He was so grateful that he wanted every one to know what 
Jesus had done for him. He told every man he met of his 
wonderful cure. 

The city was full of excitement. The news spread so fast 
that Jesus could not stay among them any longer. He left the 
place for a few days, and went into the barren and rough hills 
beyond, where the people could not find him. 

Jesus came back to Capernaum. A man lived here who 
was considered a great man. He was rich, and commanded 
over a hundred men. He was called a centurion, and people 
looked up to him. 

He was not a Jew. but he had lived among them a long 
time, and was so kind that they liked him very much. He had 
even built a synagogue for them, with his own money. 

-He had a servant who had fallen ill: He was very sorry for 
him, and he went to the elders and asked them to send a 
messenger to Jesus, praying Him to come and raise his ser- 
vant up. 

Why did he go to the elders ? Why did he not go to Jesus 
himself? Because he was so humble-minded. He had heard 
all about the Saviour, and he felt that he was not good enough 
even to go unto Him. So the elders went to Jesus, and told 
Him that the servant of the centurion lay at home, sick of the 
palsy, and grievously tormented. 

They begged very earnestly that He would come, telling 
Him that the centurion was a very worthy man, and had done 
much for the Jews. 

The elders thought that Jesus would come when they 



•90 HEALING THE LEPER. 

pleaded with Him. They did not know that He was always 
willing to heal the sick, no matter who they were. 

He replied to the messengers that he would come and heal 
the servant. 

Jesus went with them, but when He- had almost reached 
the house, the centurion sent friends out to meet Him, saying : 

" Lord, trouble not thyself to come. I am not worthy to 
have you in my house, nor did I think myself worthy to come to 
you. But say the word only, and my servant will be healed." 

Jesus was surprised at this man's meekness, and He said 
to those around Him : 

" Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, 
not in Israel." 

The Gentile had shown more faith than even the disciples 
had. He told them that many from other nations should be 
saved, but that many unbelieving Jews should not see heaven, 
but should be cast out. 

The elders could not have been very well pleased to hear 
these words. They did not know that it was faith in God that 
would give them the right to enter the kingdom of heaven. 

He said to the centurion : 

" Go thy way ; as thou hast believed, so be it done unto 
thee." 

His word was sure. From that moment the servant was 
well. 



And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, 

which was borne of four. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the 

palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 

And he came and touched the bier; and they that bare 

him stood still. And he said, Young man, 1 say unto thee, 

arise. 

Mark 2—3, 5. Luke 7—14. 




CHAPTER XVII. 

THE PALSIED MAN HEALED — THE WIDOW OF 

NAIN. 

GAIN Jesus was home in Capermeum, "His 
own city" as it has been called. The word was 
carried that Jesus had come. He went to 
Simon Peter's house, and sat there teaching, 
while the Pharisees and doctors of the law sat 
near; and the house was so full that no more 
could enter. 

Four men came up the street, carrying a bed 
made of dried grass, with a piece of carpet 
thrown over it. On this bed a man lay, who was sick with the 
palsy. He was unable to move, and they were bearing him to 
Jesus to be made whole. 

But how were they to get the bed into the house ? The 
people were packed so closely together that they could not get 
in at the door. 

The sick man began to be fearful that he would be unable 
to reach the Saviour. Although he wanted to have his limbs 

91 



92 THE PALSIED MAN HEALED— THE WIDOW OF NAIN. 

cured, he was far more anxious to have his sins removed, for 
he had led a bad life, and he was very sorry for it. He knew 
that Jesus could pardon him. 

So when he saw how hard it was to enter the door, he was 
worried. But his friends were determined that he should not 
be disappointed, for they, too, had great faith that he would be 
made well, if they could only find some way to get him into the 
house. So they made a way. 

The houses in Palestine were not built like ours. Like 
those in all hot countries, the roofs were flat, and there were 
flights of stairs from the outside, to pass up. The people 
spent a great portion of their time on the housetop, and often 
flowers and shrubs were grown there. 

So these friends of the palsied man took him up the stair- 
way to the roof, and lifting up some of the tiles, they cut a 
large opening in the housetop, and let him down, on his bed, 
into the midst of the people, close to where the Saviour sat. 

It pleased Jesus to see the perfect faith they had shown. 
He knew, too, that the sick man was more troubled about his 
wickedness than he was about his poor, miserable body. 

So He said to the man, who was looking at Him so 
earnestly : 

" Son, be of good cheer ; thy sins are forgiven." 

Some of those present were vexed at this. They had looked 
for a miracle to be shown, on his body. They were not think- 
ing that his soul was sick with sin, and needed a cure 
also. 

They thought, " What does this man mean ? Why does He 



THE PALSIED MAN HEALED— THE WIDOW OF NAIN. 9} 

speak thus? He blasphemes ; it is God alone who can forgive 
sins." 

They knew He could cure diseases. They had all seen Him 
heal the sick. But they grew angry at hearing Jesus say that 
He forgave sin. 

Our Lord knew their thoughts, and He reproved them, 
thus : 

" What do you think in your hearts ? Is it easier to say 
your sins are forgiven, than to say, Arise and walk ? 

" But that ye may know the Son of Man hath power on 
earth, to pardon sins (He turned to the man sick with the 
palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed and walk." 

The palsied man's heart leaped up, his limbs regained their 
strength in an instant, and he rolled up his bed, and passing 
through the crowd, went. his way, praising God. 

And the people went away saying among themselves : 

" We have indeed seen strange things to-day. We have 
never seen anything like this before." 

About twenty-five miles distant from Capernaum was a 
little town called Nain. This town lay on the side of a moun- 
tain in a very pretty country, where streams sparkled as they 
flowed down the sides of the hills. 

As Jesus came nigh to the gate of the city He met a sad 
group — a procession of people accompanying a poor woman 
whose only son was dead. 

She was a widow, How sad she must have been. Her 
neighbors and friends came with willing hearts to show their 
respect, and to try to comfort her loneliness. 



94 THE PALSIED MAN HEALED— THE WIDOW OF NAIN. 

But she could not be comforted. Her only son, whom she 
had loved fondly, was dead. She could only weep and 
mourn. 

Some men were carrying the dead boy on a bier, and the 
mourners were walking behind it, crying loudly and lamenting. 

When Jesus saw her, He had pity for her sorrow, and He 
went to her and. said in tones of gentle compassion : 

" Weep not !" 

She must have felt grateful to a stranger for speaking com- 
forting words. But how must her heart have throbbed with 
gratitude and joy when she saw Him go toward the bier on 
which her beloved child lay. 

He came and touched the bier, while the men who bore it 
stood still. Every one of the mourners was looking at Him 
wondering why He should wish to see one whom He could not 
have known when he was alive. And He said : 

" Young man, I say unto thee, arise !" 

The boy was dead. How could he hear this command? It 
was Jesus who had spoken to him. At that voice, life flowed 
back into the body, and he that was dead, sat up, and began to 
speak. s 

And Jesus gave the boy to his mother. 

Oh, what could that happy mother say to tell her gratitude ! 
How she must have loved that gracious Lord who gave her 
back her dear child. 

What did the people say ? A great fear came upon them. 
Do you wonder that they were filled with awe ? This was 
more miraculous than anything He had done before. He had 



THE PALSIED MAN HEALED -THE IV I DOW OF NAIN. 



95 



made the sick well, had giyen sight to the blind, and caused the 
lame to walk. But now He had raised the dead. 

But they broke out into glorification of the power of God, 
saying : 

"A great prophet is risen up among us. God hath visited 
His people." 

And many believed from that hour. 

Thus every miracle He wrought brought them closer to 
God. They saw His hand in all these signs, and owned the 
power of Jesus. 




While he spake these things unto them, behold, there 

came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter 

is even now dead; but come and lay thy hand upon her, 

and she shall live. 

And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his 

disciples. 

Matthew 9—18, 19. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



RAISING JAIRUS l DAUGHTER. 

S Jesus went forth to preach one day, He saw a 

man named Matthew sitting at a table, taking 

money for the king. That was his business, to 

collect money, and he collected a good deal for 

himself, for he was not honest. 

When the Saviour looked upon him He said 
to him : " Follow me." 

Matthew was rich. He had not led a good 
life, and yet when he heard this command he 
was so pleased to know that Jesus had chosen him for a disci- 
ple, that he left his trade of money-getting, and arose at once, 
and followed our Lord. 

He made a great feast in his own house that night, to show 
his joy at the honor which he had received, and he invited 
Jesus to the feast, and all his own friends. 

These friends were not good men. But Matthew had no 
other friends at that time, though after that he only associated 
with those who were good and true. 

96 




RAISING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. 97 

Jesus went to the banquet, and sat down with sinful men 
and women. The Scribes and Pharisees were very proud and 
self-righteous. They would not eat with such people, for they 
thought themselves too holy and good. As usual, they spoke 
about it to the disciples, saying : 

" Why do ye eat with such vile people as these?" 

Jesus heard them complaining, and He said to them that 
well people did not need a doctor, only the sick did. He told 
them plainly that His mission was to save sinners, whom He 
wanted to make feel ashamed of their wickedness, for, He 
said : 

'* I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repent- 
ance." 

They did not like to be reproved for their want of charity 
toward other's faults. 

But the supper was scarcely over, when a great man, one of 
the rulers of the synagogue, came hastily in, and throwing him- 
self at the feet of Jesus, begged him to come right away to his 
house. For he said his only daughter, a girl of twelve, whom 
he was very fond of, was dying. 

Jesus heeded his petition. He rose up, and went to the 
house, followed by His disciples, and many others. They 
know He was going to the house of the rich man, to save the 
life of his only daughter. 

On His way thither, a sick woman who had been ill for 
many years, saw Him. No doctor had been able to help her, 
and she was growing more sick all the time. 

She had a great desire to come near to Jesus, for she 



% RAISING J A1RUS' DAUGHTER. 

thought if she could but touch Him, she should be better. So 
she worked her way in among the crowd, and coming behind 
Him she timidly touched the hem of His robe. 

He felt that light touch, and inquired, "Who touched me ?'* 

Peter thought it was only the throng pressing against Him. 

Jesus knew better, and He said again : 

" Somebody has touched me, for I perceive that a blessing 
has gone out from me, to some one." 

The poor woman knew she could not hide herself, and she 
came forward tremblingly, for she feared she had offended Jesus. 

She told Him why she had put her hand upon His garment ; 
she had been ill so long, that she wanted to be made well, and 
she knew no one could cure her but the Master. 

He answered her very gently : "Daughter, be of good 
cheer. Thy faith hath made thee .well. Go in peace." 

All this time how impatient and anxious that poor father 
was, who came for Jesus. But as they hurried on, a messen- 
ger met them from the ruler's home, bidding him not to worry 
■the Master. It was no use to come now, for the little girl was 
dead. 

Jesus spoke with tenderness to the poor father : 

" Fear not ; believe only, and she shall be made whole." 

Going on, He entered the house, bidding no one to follow 
Him save Peter, James and John. 

He found the house full of mourners, who were beating; 
their breasts, and tearing their hair, and crying in a loud voice, 
as was the custom among the people of that country, to show 
their grief. 



RAISING JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. 99 

Jesus said to them : " Why do you weep so ? The 
maiden is not dead ; she only sleeps.." 

And they laughed Him to scorn. For the child was dead, 
and they knew it. How foolish, they thought, it was to say she 
sleeps. 

He sent these mourners who mocked Him, out of the 
house, and taking the three disciples and the weeping father 
and mother into the chamber where the dead girl was, He went 
up to the couch on which she lay, and taking her b** the hand, 
He called : " Maiden, arise." 

At once the warm blood came back into the little cold form, 
the eyes opened, and she arose from the bed. 

Then He told her parents to feed her. How that house- 
nold must have rejoiced. And how dearly that little girl must 
have loved Jesus, who had given her back to the father and 
mother who loved her so. 

But He charged them that they were to tell no man why 
had been done. 




Now there is at Jerusalem, by the sheep market a 

pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having 

five porches. 

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity 

thirty and eight years. 

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been 

now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou 

be made whole? 

John 5 — 2, 5, 6. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

THE POOL OF BETHESDA. 

BOUT the middle of March there was held, in 
Jerusalem, a feast. It was not a religious cele- 
bration, like the Feast of the Passover, but 
rather a national one, and was held by the Jews 
to commemorate the deliverance of their race in 
the days of Esther. 

There was a sheep-gate in the city, near 
which lay a pool, called in the Hebrew Bethesda, 
or House of Mercy. Round this pool were 
built five porches or doorways where sick people lay, sheltered 
from the sun. 

These people were sick of various diseases, and they 
waited there for the coming of an angel who, every now and 
then, came down and troubled the surface of the pool in a very 
strange manner. It was said that the first person who could 
step into that water after it was so disturbed, would be blessed, 
through its healing power, and would be cured of whatever 
sickness afflicted him. 

100 




THE POOL OF BETHESDA. 101 

It was the Sabbath day, and Jesus, with His tender love for 
the poor and helpless, would surely be found here. And so 
He was, for He went to this pool, and there lay a man who had 
been a cripple for thirty-eight years. 

Jesus knew all his past life, and how he had been a bad 
man, and this sickness had come upon him through some sin 
he had done. 

But He looked upon him, and said : " Wilt thou be made 
whole?" 

Trie friendly voice sounded sweet to his ears. He answered 
Jesus, by telling Him his sad story. He said he had waited so 
often for the chance to enter the waters when they wer^ 
troubled. But he had no friend to carry him there, and before 
he could reach the pool, some one else would step in, and he 
would lose the blessing. 

Jesus pitied him, and said: " Rise, take up thy bed and walk." 

Strength came at once to his crippled limbs. He arose, 
rolled up his mar, and walked through the streets. 

He was walking on, when some Jews met him, and spoke 
to him quite sharply : 

" It is the Sabbath day. Do you not know it is wrong to 
carry your bed?" 

He said : " He that cured me, told me to take up my bed, 
and walk." 

They asked him eagerly who it was that had cured him. 
But he could not answer that question, because he did not 
know who Jesus was, and He had gone away from the pool 
directlv. 



102 THE POOL OF BETHESDA. 

Later in that day he went to the temple to praise God for 
His mercy, and Jesus saw him again, and bade him be careful, 
now that he was well, that he sinned no more, lest a worse 
thing should happen to him. 

The man now knew who had given him back the use of his 
limbs. He at once left the temple, and told the Pharisees who 
had made him well. 

They were very angry. To think this new healer should 
dare to break one of their most binding rules, and perform a 
miracle upon the Sabbath. 

When they chided Him for it, He said in answer : 

" My Father worketh, and I work also." 

This made them still more bitter against him. He not only- 
had broken their Sabbath, but He claimed that He was the Son 
of God, and that His Father helped Him do the miracles. 

So they whispered among themselves, and resolved to kilt 
Him. They knew their religion, with all its empty show, was 
in danger of being overthrown, and so they resolved to kills 
Jesus. 

They had already thrown John the Baptist into prison, and 
they thought it would be easy to slay this new prophet who 
had arisen. 

Jesus said very solemnly that His Father loved Him, and 
gave Him power to do His works ; even to raise the dead to 
life again ; that all men should honor the Son, even as they 
honor the Father. 

He told them how John had borne witness unto Him ; also 
that His own works were a proof that He was the Son of God. 



THE POOL OF BETHESDA. 105 

" Search the Scriptures," He said, " for in them ye think ye 
have eternal life ; and they also speak for me." 

He also reminded them that Moses, who was their great 
lawgiver, and whose words they trusted, wrote of Him. 

He said, "But I know you, that you have not the love of 
God in you." 

That was true ; the Jews were careful to obey God in some 
things ; but their hearts were not filled with His love. They 
pretended to follow His precepts, but they were planning the 
murder of his Son. 

Jesus knew that He was hated and watched, and He left 
the holy city, with a few friends. He had not chosen all of His 
disciples, but John, the youngest of them, was with Him, and 
so was Philip. With sad hearts they left Jerusalem, and re- 
turned into Galilee. 




And behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, 
when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's 
house, brought an alabaster box of ointment ; 
And stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began 
to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the 
hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed 
them with the ointment. 

Luke— 7, 37, 38. 




CHAPTER XX. 



THE PHARISEE AND THE SINNER. 



;HE time had come when Jesus was no longer safe 

in Jerusalem. He was hated by all the great men 

in power, and they were planning continually how 

to get Him in their hands, so that they might kill 

Him. 

But though He knew the time was coming 

when He should die at their hands, yet it was not 

His Father's will that He should perish then. And 

so He would do His work daily until that hour when 

He must give up His precious life to His enemies. 

Jesus had labored so long in the cities about Lake Gennesa- 

reth, that it grieved Him to find the people still so unbelieving. 

They remained hard-hearted and blind to the truth, even though 

they had listened to His teachings so often. 

A certain Pharisee, named Simon, at Capernaum, invited Jesus 
to dine at his house. Simon was not one of his enemies from 
Jerusalem ; he was merely a member of the sect, and he gave this 
feast and asked our Saviour to come, so that he might hear H im talk. 

104 




BY H. HOFMANN. 



THE SINFUL WOMAN FORGIVEN. 




L 



-*m 



BY H. HOFMANN. 



ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS. 



THE PHARISEE AND THE SINNER. 107 

He also asked a great many others to dinner that day. 

It was always a mark of respect to have the servants wash 
the feet of guests, and put oil upon their heads, and as Simon's 
friends began to gather at his house, they were all honored in 
this manner. But he probably thought he had paid Jesus atten- 
tion enough by asking Him to come and eat at his table, and so 
when our Lord entered the room, He sat down, and no such 
courtesy was shown Him. 

This proud Pharisee met all the other guests with a kiss, 
and a pleasant word of welcome. Jesus came in alone, and 
not a word was said to Him to show Him that the master of 
the house was pleased to see Him. 

The tables were spread with many good things, and the vis- 
itors were placed around them, on couches. They did not sit 
up straight in chairs as we do, but half-reclined on couches or 
lounges, while they ate. 

While they were at meat, a woman who was noted for her 
sinful life entered the house, and going up to the Saviour, threw 
herself at His feet, while the tears of sorrow at her wickedness 
poured down her face. 

They were tears of sorrow for her sins. Then taking an 
alabaster box of costly ointment which she had brought with 
her, she began to bathe His feet with her tears, and then she 
kissed them, and wiped them with her long hair, and anointed 
them with the ointment. 

The Pharisee, Simon, was very much displeased. He felt 
sure that Jesus could not know who the woman was, efee He 
would not have permitted her to touch Him. 



108 THE PHARISEE AND THE SINNER. 

He thought within himself, although he did not say the 
words : 

" If this man were a prophet, as they pretend He is, He 
would have known all about this woman, for she is a sinner." 

You know the sect to which he belonged believed themselves 
very holy. And the Bible tells us of one of them who smote 
his breast and thanked God he was not as other men. 

So you could not expect him to feel compassion for a sinner, 
■even if she were very, very sorry for having led a wicked life. 

Jesus read the thoughts of those around Him, just as He 
would an open book. So He knew what was passing in Simon's 
mind, and He said, to him : 

" Simon, I have something to say to you." 

And the Pharisee said — " Master, say it to me." 

Jesus told him the story of a man who had let two other 
men have money. One of these men owed him quite a large 
sum of money, the other only owed him a small sum. 

He found that neither of these men could pay him anything, 
and so he forgave them both. The Saviour asked Simon which 
of those men would love the creditor most ? 

Simon answered that the one to whom he forgave the most, 
would love him most. 

Jesus answered — "You have judged rightly." 

This was a lesson of the great debt of gratitude which those 
who are wicked owe God, when He helps them to cast off their 
burden of sin. The one who has sinned the most, has most 
cause for thankfulness. 

Jesus turned toward the penitent woman, and said : 



THE PHARISEE AND THE SINNER. 109 

"Simon, do you see this woman? I came into your house, 
and you gave me no water for my feet, but she hath washed my 
feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 
You gave me no kiss, but this woman has never ceased to kiss 
my feet, since the time I came in. You put no oil upon my 
head, but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 

" Wherefore I say unto you, her sins which are many, are for- 
given; for she loved much. But those to whom little is forgiven, 
the same love little." 

What a lesson this was for Simon. He had shown no hos- 
pitable feelings to his invited guest, neither had he humbled 
himself as had this poor woman whom he despised. His self- 
love must have had a hard blow at these words of reproof from 
the lowly Nazarene. 

Those who sat round the table began to talk among them- 
selves, and ask — " Who is this that forgives sins also ? " 

And He said kindly to the woman — "Thy faith hath saved 
you. Go in peace." 




And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was 

a man there which had a withered hand. 

And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, 

Stand forth. 

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, 

being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto 

the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: 

and his hand was restored who'e as the other. 

Mark 3—1, 3, 5. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



THE WITHERED HAND. 

IWVIONG the Pharisees certain laws were laid 
down for the people to observe, which were 
very strict. The Sabbath had become a burden 
under the instructions of the rabbis. 

The Sabbath had been given by God to man, 
as a day of rest for both body and soul, and for 
worship in His holy temple. The Pharisees had 
made so many useless and foolish rules with re- 
gard to its observance, that we wonder how they 
could expect them to be obeyed. 

Jesus wanted to tell the Pharisees how the Sabbath should 
be kept. But that angered them, because they did not want to- 
be taught. They could not endure to have any blame cast 
upon anything they did or said. 

Among the foolish laws they had were these : 
No insect, however troublesome or poisonous, must be 
killed on the Sabbath. 

Shoes with nails in them were not to be worn on that day. 

no 




THE WITHERED HAND. Ill 

No fire was allowed to be lighted on the Sabbath. All the 
food eaten was to be cooked on other days, and no sick people 
were to be made comfortable, or healed on that day. 

The Lord had given a commandment that the Sabbath day 
was to be kept holy, but the rabbis kept adding these petty 
rules until it was very hard for the people to avoid doing some- 
thing that would not be considered breaking them. 

So when the Saviour began to tell them how best to keep 
the day, the rabbis were offended, for they knew His doctrines 
were sure to set their authority aside. 

It was a beautiful Sabbath day, and as Jesus and His disci- 
ples were walking through a cornfield the disciples began to 
pluck the ripe ears that hung heavy on their stalks. For they 
were hungry, and the corn was juicy and sweet. 

Here was a chance to blame them, and the Pharisees, who 
were ever on the lookout for faults in others, complained to 
Jesus : 

" Why do your disciples do that on the Sabbath day which 
is unlawful ?" 

Jesus answered them from their own Scriptures. " Have 
you not heard," He said, " when David and they that were with 
him, were hungry, how that they went into the temple of God 
and ate the shew bread, which none but the priests should 
eat?" 

He said more than this. He defended His disciples. He 
said they were not doing wrong by satisfying their hunger, and 
anything that was necessary to be done on that day, could be 
done without harm. 



112 THE WITHERED HAND. 

" The Sabbath was made for man," He said, " and not man 
for the Sabbath. The Son of man is Lord, even of the Sab- 
bath day." 

Such plain defiance of their rules was too much for these 
proud rabbis. They hated Him now more than ever. 

He passed on, and entered one of their synagogues, and 
taught. There He found a man with a hand drawn up and 
withered, so that he could not use it at all. 

The Pharisees were watching Him, for they knew His ten- 
der nature, and they wanted to see if He would again break 
their laws by healing on the Sabbath. They meant to accuse 
Him, and have Him punished. 

Jesus was not to be stopped in His work of mercy, and as 
soon as He saw the paralytic, He said to Him : 

"Stand up in the midst." 

The man stood up quickly. He felt the joy that was in 
store for him, for he knew Jesus' power. 

Then Jesus, looking around, said to the stubborn Pharisees: 

" I will ask you a question. Is it lawful to do good on the 
Sabbath day, or to do evil ? to save life, or to kill?" 

But they could not answer Him a word. 

He looked again at the Pharisees. He was very angry at 
their hard hearts and their unreasonableness. And He said to 
the man : 

"Stretch forth thine hand." 

The poor man did not wait to be told twice. He stretched 
out his shrunken, useless hand, and lo, it was made well, and 
like the other. 



THE WITHERED HAND. 113 

Now the Pharisees grew furious. Instead of being glad 
that the man could use his hand again, they were enraged, be- 
cause our Lord had broken their laws, and they resolved to 
■destroy Him. 

So they took counsel with the Herodians as to how they 
should do so. 

Jesus knew their designs. But the time was still in the 
future when He must die at their hands, and so He went away 
from them for a time, and went down to the sea. 

And multitudes followed Him, from Galilee, and from 
Judea ; and from Jerusalem, and from beyond the Jordan. 
And they thronged round Him, and He kept on healing, and 
casting out unclean spirits. All with one accord, fell down be- 
fore Him, and cried out : 

" Thou art the Son of God !" 




And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him 

whom he would; and they came unto him. 

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with hir«i„ 

and that he might send them forth to preach. 

And to have power to heal sickness, and to cast out 

devils. 

Mark 3—1 3, 14, 15. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

CHOOSING THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 

( FTER this He went up into a mountain to pray. 

Here He remained all night, talking with His 

Father in heaven. How He must have loved 

And what comfort and rest He must 

have received, from communing with Him! 

Thus we can all feel, dear children, when we 
kneel in prayer. It is a glad thought that we can 
all become as little children, and go to Him with 
our troubles, asking His help to bear them, and 
His strength to enable us to put away our foolish, angry, or un- 
forgiving feelings. 

After spending the night in this way, He called to Him His 
disciples. 

Many answered the call, for many loved Him, and would 
gladly have followed Him. All who listened to His words, and 
tried to be good and obedient to the lessons He taught them, 
were His disciples. 

Do you know what the word apostle means ? It is one sent, 

114 




CHOOSING THE TWELYE APOSTLES. 115 

or a messenger. He was about to send them forth as mission- 
aries, to take His message to sinners, and to preach and heal as 
He had done. 

The names of these twelve chosen ones were, Simon Peter 
and Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 
Matthew and Thomas ; another James, the son of Alpheus ; 
and Simon, the Canaanite ; Thaddeus and Judas Iscariot, the 
traitor, who afterward betrayed his Lord. 

And Jesus made them ministers ; blessing them, and giving 
them power to preach, and cast out evil spirits, and cure those 
who were sick. 

He intended to send them forth, two by two, for this purpose. 

He commanded them to proclaim that the kingdom of 
Heaven was at hand. He told them that, though they were 
poor, yet were they rich, for they would come into the king- 
dom of God. Blessed they were, when hungry, for they should 
be filled. 

He told them not to expect to be well received by every 
one. They must expect to be persecuted, but that every hair 
of their head was numbered, and even though their bodies were 
ill-used, they should fear nothing save that which would harm 
both soul and body. 

By that was meant sin, and that we should all fear. 

One command he gave those who listened, which should 
be fixed in the hearts of all: " Love your enemies and do good 
to them which hate you." 

" Give to every man that asketh of thee." And even if they 
were unjustly treated, they were to return good for evil. 



116 CHOOSING THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 

He taught them that if they only loved those who loved 
them, what merit was there in it ? Or if they only were kind 
and obliging, with the expectation of receiving kindness again, 
they were selfish. 

It was much harder to do good to those who were unthank- 
ful, and when they tried to do right, their reward would be 
great hereafter, and they would become the children of 
the Highest. For He was kind to the ungrateful and the 
wicked. 

The apostles staid with Him a little while longer, that they 
might be more thoroughly trained for their work. 

On the same day that the Saviour had chosen his twelve 
apostles, a man was brought to him who was possessed of an 
evil spirit, and who was otherwise dreadfully afflicted, for he 
was blind and dumb. 

And Jesus had much compassion for the unfortunate man, 
and he cast out the devil, and made the man both see and 
speak. 

At this the people were more amazed than ever, and some 
of them said: 

" Is not this the Messiah ? " 

But the Scribes and Pharisees spoke very meanly of our 
blessed Lord. They declared that He cast out devils by Satan's 
help, and that He himself was possessed of a devil. 

Jesus asked them how an evil spirit could cast out another 
evil spirit. He told them that He cast out devils by the hand 
of God. And He told them that they were in danger of being 
cast into hell if they spoke against the Holy Spirit of God 



CHOOSING THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 117 

which was in Him. And unless that Spirit entered their hearts, 
they could never go to heaven. 

His relatives now began to grow very uneasy about Him 
when they heard how sternly He had rebuked the Scribes and 
Pharisees. They tried to excuse His strong language. 

"He must be out of his mind to act like this." 

They had not begun to wholly believe in him, as the Son of 
God, and when He appointed the twelve disciples and gave 
them power to do miracles, they were very much distressed. 

And the Scribes were very glad to know that his mother 
and his brethren doubted his miraculous powers, and they kept 
repeating their accusations. 

All day long they had been so busy ministering to the mul- 
titudes that Jesus and His disciples had not had time to even 
eat any bread. 

So when Mary and His brethren knew how ready the Scribes 
and Pharisees were to injure Him, they thought they would per- 
suade Him to go with them to some quiet place, where He would 
be out of danger. 

His mother should have known by this time that He was 
truly the Son of God, and did not need her protection. Her 
faith should have been stronger. 

When they reached the house where Jesus was hemmed in 
by the crowd, they could not enter. So they sent in a messen- 
ger to say that His mother and brothers were outside, and de- 
sired to speak to Him. 

And Jesus answered the man, saying : 

" Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? " 



118 



CHOOSING THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 



Then stretching forth His hand toward His disciples, He 
said: 

" Behold my mother and my brethren ; 

" For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in 
heaven, the same is my brother, and my sister, and my mother! " 




And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples 

followed him, 

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, 

insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he 

was asleep. 

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, 

Lord save us; we perish. 

Mark 8—23, 24, 25. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

A PARABLE. — THE STORM. 

iESUS' words never fell on dull ears. Everywhere 
He went His steps were closely followed by 
multitudes eager to hear all He said. 
The day was not yet over, and Jesus had been 
teaching in a house. Going down to the shore of 
the Sea of Galilee He sat down. Seeing Him 
there, the crowds began to collect about Him, and 
there were such numbers that He entered a boat 
and was pushed away from shore. From this 
boat He spoke many things to them. He now began to talk to 
them in parables. Parables are stories told which have a hid- 
den meaning. Sometimes these meanings are very hard to 
find out. But Jesus loved to teach by means of these 
stories. 

On this day, when the people were crowding each other to 
get as near the edge of the water as they could, He spoke to 
them in this wise : 

" Behold, there went out a sower to sow. 

119 




t 



120 A PARABLE.— THE STORM. 

"And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the 
wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured 
it up. 

" And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much 
earth ; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth 
of earth. 

" But when the sun was up, it was scorched ; and because' 
it had no root, it withered away. 

" And some tell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and 
choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 

" And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that 
sprang up and increased, and brought forth, some thirty, and. 
some sixty, and some a hundred." 

When the people had gone away, pondering on this story,, 
the disciples asked the Saviour what the parable meant. 

He said, " It is given to you to know the mystery of the 
kingdom of God, but to those who were outside, I must 
speak in parables. 

" The seed is the word of God, and the soil it is sown in, is 
the hearts of the people. 

" When it falls by the wayside, it falls on cold, hard hearts.. 
They hear God's message, but pay no attention to it. The. 
cares of the world soon make them forget the seed. 

"Those on the rock are people who love to hear about 
God, but take no pains to do as He bids them, and soon all the 
good impulses die in them. 

"' The thorns are the little things that worry and perplex 
people. They believe the word is good, but they are sc busy 



A PARABLE.— THE STORM. 121< 

piling up money, or seeking pleasure, that they have no time to* 
seek the kingdom of God. 

' But the seed that fell on good ground, are people whose 
hearts are honest and who love God sincerely, and try to walk 
in the right path." And good fruit, such as gentle deeds, and 
pure actions, spring up in those hearts, a blessing to all around. 

Children, is not this a fine parable, and would you not 
choose to be the good ground ? 

Many other parables He uttered, and He always explained, 
them to the' disciples when He was alone with them. 

The long day was ended. Jesus was weary, and needed 
rest. All day He had preached to the people, and He wanted 
to go where it was quiet. So He said : 

" Let us go to the other side of the lake." 

So they got the boat ready right away, and the little boat 
started away from the shore. 

Other little ships with people in them, who could not give 
the Saviour time for rest, so anxious they were to hear more 
from His lips, followed the one in which the disciples with their 
loved Master, was. 

As the boat sailed over the sea, the tired Saviour fell fast 
asleep. He was in the hinder part of the boat, and with His 
head on a pillow, He was resting quietly. 

Sudden storms are very common on the Lake of Galilee. 
The wind sweeps down the ravines between the mountains 
with great power, and such a gale came on with fury. The 
wind began to howl, and the waves lashed the sides of the boat 
so fiercely that the disciples, even though they had been fisher- 



122 A PARABLE.— THE STORM. 

men, and used to the sea, were terrified. Those who were in 
the other boats must have been even more frightened, as the 
water dashed into their little boats. 

How hard they toiled against the wind and waves, that they 
might reach the other side of the lake, where they would be 
sheltered. They grew still more alarmed, for the boat was fast 
filling with water. 

And still the Master slept on. He was so very tired, that 
though the spray and foam leaped high up in air, and the waves 
dashed against Him, and the boat was rocked to and fro, yet 
He seemed to heed it not. 

At last, when the boat was so full of water that they feared 
it would sink, in their great terror they cried out ; 

"Master, save us ! Carest thou not that we perish?" 

Jesus rose at this appeal. He had no fear. He wondered 
that these men who had been with Him in many perils should 
be so terrified. Was He not with them now ? 

" Why do you fear ?" He asked. " Have you no faith ? " 

And He rebuked the wind, and said to the howling, foaming 
sea that angrily tossed the waters over them : 

"Peace, be still!" 

The wind died away in a soft murmur, the waves were 
quiet, and a great calm fell on the deep. 

But the disciples were filled with great fear, and they said 
one to another : 

" What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the 
sea obey Him?" 

They knew then that their Lord was both God and man. 



A PARABLE.— THE STORM. 



123 



As a man He was overcome by weariness, and had slept 
As a God, He could make the winds and the waves acknowl- 
edge His power. And so the disciples had another proof of 
His wondrous power ; and a lesson also that they should trust 
Him without questioning. He stilled the waves, and brought 
His followers safely back. Thus you, little children, must trust 
Him in all things. 



^vt* 




'*->v^ 



Then was brought unto him one possessed with a 
devil, blind and dumb; and he healed him, insomuch that 
the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this 
the son of David? 

Matthew 12—22, 23. 




CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE DEMONIAC. 



;HE next morning was bright and pleasant, after the 

wild storm of the night before, Jesus had calmed 

the angry waves, and the little boat had passrd 

over the waters into the country of the Gada- 

renes, and they had gone on shore. 

The Saviour and His disciples had scarcley 

landed, when a terrible object came rushing down 

upon them. It did not look like a man, yet it was 

one, whom no one could tame. 

He was "possessed with a devil." No one 
dared pass that way. No one could show him any kindness, for 
he was so violent that no one dared approach him. Again and 
again had bands of men gone out there, and taken him and 
bound him in chains, but always he broke loose, and ran 
away. 

He lived among the old tombs, where people had been buried 
many years before, and he never wore any clothes. How he 
found food, or where he slept, no one knew, for he was so 



124 



THE DEMONIAC. 125 

vicious and strong that every one kept away from this lonely 
spot. 

You may know that he was strong enough to injure any one 
who came near him, when he could snap the iron links of heavy 
chains apart. 

He had dwelt here a long time, and though there were peo- 
ple who would gladly be kind to him, they could not show 
their willingness to be so. 

Here he lived, wretched and alone, tormented day and night 
by this wicked spirit, crying loudly, and cutting himself with 
stones. 

He must have seen the boat approach the land, for he dashed 
headlong down the hill to meet the Saviour. 

What would you expect this poor demoniac to do ? Would 
you not fear that he would try to harm Jesus ? 

He did not ; he fell down and worshiped Him, and cried : 

"What have I to do with thee, Son of the Most High! I 
beg thee to torment me not ! " 

The wicked spirit that was in the poor man knew Jesus, and 
■knew His mighty power, and trembled before Him. 

As soon as Jesus saw him, he said with a loud voice : 

" Come out of this man, you unclean spirit." 

How the evil spirit did shriek. It knew it had to obey. 
Then Jesus asked the man his name. His answer was : 

" My name is Legion — for we are many." 

Legion signifies a great number, and he meant that there 
were a great number of bad spirits in him. 

The devils began to fear that they would be sent back to 



126 THE DEMONIAC. 

their wicked home, and they begged Jesus to let them 
stay. 

A little way off a vast herd of swine were feeding. And 
they asked the Saviour to send them into the swine. 

And He said unto them, "Go." 

As soon as they entered the swine, the whole herd of two 
thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were 
drowned. 

The men who had charge of the pigs and fed them, and saw 
that they did not stray away, were terribly frightened. They 
ran as swiftly as they could to the city, and some went round 
into the country, and told the miraculous news. 

The people who heard this story could scarce believe it, and 
they left their homes, and their business, to see if it were true. 
As they drew near the spot where the demoniac had wandered 
so long, they found him sitting at Jesus' feet as quiet and sen- 
sible as any other man. And they were amazed and afraid, and 
begged Jesus to depart from their midst. 

No doubt they were angry at the loss of their swine, instead 
of being rejoiced at the poor man being cured. 

Jesus turned away and went back to the boat" that had 
brought Him to this shore, where His first miracle had brought 
the ill-will of the people upon Him. 

The man whom He had made well, prayed Jesus to let him 
go with Him, but the Saviour would not. Rather must he re- 
main behind, as a witness to what the Lord had done for him. 

The restored man did as Jesus bid. He went at once to 
'chose friends who had known him when he was young, and to 



THE DEMONIAC. 



127 



strangers wherever he met them, and published to all the 
country about, how good the Lord had been to him. And all 
who heard were filled with wonder. 

Jesus and His disciples, tired and hungry, left the place 
where He was not welcome, and went back across the lake. 

And the people on the other side received Him gladly. 
They were waiting anxiously for His return. 




And he sent and beheaded John in the prison. 
And his head was brought in a charger, and given to 
the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and 
buried it, and went and told Jesus. 

Matthew 14—10, 11, 12. 




CHAPTER XXV. 



THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 



iOHN the Baptist had been shut up in prison a 
long time. King Herod had given the order that 
he should be kept a prisoner, for John had 
reproved him sharply for a great sin. 

This Herod was the son of that other Herod 
who was king when our Saviour was born. And 
this Herod was as wicked as his father. 

Herod had done two very wicked things. He 
had put away his own wife, who was a good 
woman, and had married Herodias, the wife of his brother 
Philip, who was still living. 

The fame of John the Baptist had gone forth, and Herod 
had sent for him that he might see what kind of a man 
he was. 

John was sent for to come to the palace. The great prophet 
came, dressed in his camel's hair robe, and stood before . the 
king and Herodias, who had been made the queen. 

John had never been afraid to speak to any person of their 

128 



THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 129 

sins. The Pharisees and the soldiers, as well as the common 
people, had all been rebuked by him when they deserved it. 

As he stood in the presence of the king and queen, he said 
boldly to Herod : 

" You know it is not right for you to have your brother's 
wife." 

How angry these words made the king and queen. He had 
not been sent for that he might chide them thus, but that their 
curiosity might be satisfied as to his appearance. 

Herodias was so enraged that she would have killed him at 
once, but she could not, but from that time she hated him 
bitterly. 

Herod was very angry too, but still he liked a good many 
things that John had said, and he dared not kill him, for he was 
a holy man, and only spoke the words that God put in his 
mouth. 

So he could only throw him into prison, and keep him 
there. 

But the queen was plotting all the time to have him killed. 
Putting him in prison did not seem punishment enough for 
her. She wanted to see him dead. 

The birthday of Herod Tame, and he gave a great banquet, 
and invited all the great captains of his army, and the lords, and 
many of the noted men. 

Herodias had a young daughter Salome who danced very 
gracefully. So on Herod's birthday her mother told her to go 
into the banquet hall, and dance there before the king and his 
company. 



130 THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 

Herod was so much pleased with her dancing, that he said 
to her, and he took a very solemn oath, in the hearing of the 
nobles : 

" Whatever you like to have, that will I give you, even to the 
half of my kingdom." 

The young girl did not know what she had better ask for, 
and so she ran back to her mother, and said : 

" What shall I ask the king to give me ?" 

And that wicked woman was secretly glad. Here was the 
chance she had waited for. The king had given his word be- 
fore all those nobles, and he was fearful lest they would despise 
him, if he broke it. So she said to her daughter : 

" Go, ask for the head of John the Baptist" 

Would not most young girls have shuddered at such a 
dreadful request as that ? Alas ! Salome was as wicked as her 
mother. So she went to the hall where the king sat surrounded 
by his guests, and said to him in firm tones : 

" Give me, by and by, on a dish, the head of John the 
Baptist." 

Herod was troubled. He knew it was wicked to take 
John's life, merely because he had blamed the queen and him- 
self for doing wrong. He feared to kill him too, because the 
people loved John, honoring him as a great prophet. But the 
young girl reminded him of his oath, and he had to keep it. 

So he sent an executioner at once to the prison, who cut 
off the head of John the Baptist, and brought it in on a tray to 
the girl, who took it and carried it to her mother. 

Herod now began to hear of the fame of Jesus, and he 



THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 131 

trembled, because he thought the prophet whom he had killed 
had risen from the dead. He said to his servants : 

'This must be John the Baptist. He is risen from the 
dead." 

You see his conscience troubled him. No one can do 
wrong, and feel easy after it. Neither Herod nor his wife were 
happy after that. Guilt' and sin always bring sorrow. 

When the disciples of John had laid his body in the tomb, 
they came and told Jesus. 

And He grieved deeply, for He loved His cousin John. And 
John was very dear to many, for he was a great prophet, and 
had many followers. 

So Jesus went away by ship to a desert place, where He 
mourned for the cruel death of that prophet who had been His 
own forerunner. 




And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the 
grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking 
up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves 
to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 
And they did all eat, and were filled; and they took up 
of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, 
besides women and children. 

Matthew 14—19, 20, 21. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. 

|HE apostles were back from their first journey. 

They had been sent by the Saviour, two by two, 

to preach and heal, and they had been round 

Galilee, performing their work. 

And they told Jesus of the many strange things 

they had seen and heard. 

The people were coming and going, and were 

following the Saviour everywhere, for they had 

gone after Him out of all the cities, so eager were 

they to hear Him preach. 

And His heart was full of compassion for them, and He 

healed their sick. And though He had gone to that desert 

place in a ship, when they reached it, they found this multitude 

had gone there before and were waiting for Him. 

And when the night fell, and the darkness came upon the 
earth, the disciples thought the people should go to their homes, 
and leave Jesus, to find that rest and refreshment which He so 




much needed. 



So they said to Him 

132 



FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. 133 

"Send the multitude away, that they may go into the 
villages, and buy themselves food." 

Jesus said — " You need not send them away. We will feed 
them." 

Philip made answer : " We have not money enough, even 
if we spent all of it, to buy food for all these people." 

Jesus said — " How many loaves have you ? " 

Andrew said, "There is a boy here, who has five barley 
loaves and two small fishes. But what use are they, among so 
many people ? " 

For there were five thousand people, men, women and 
children! 

" Bring them hither to me," was all He said. 

And then He told that army of people to sit down upon 
the grass, in rows of fifty, and He took the bread and the two 
little fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them and 
broke them in pieces, giving them to the disciples to pass to 
the people. 

Think of it! Five thousand men, and women and children, 
ate of the food, and ate heartily, for they were all hungry no 
doubt. 

And the food kept growing more in quantity in the Saviour's 
hands, while He kept breaking and distributing it to the crowds. 

Every one ate of the loaves and fishes until they were 
filled. 

Jesus said to the disciples when the repast was finished : 

"Do not waste anything; gather up the fragments that 
are left." 



134 FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. 

So they got some baskets, and picked up all the bits that 
were not eaten, and there were twelve baskets full. 

Then all who saw this miracle testified: "This is surely 
that prophet, the Messiah, that was to come into the 
world." 

The thousands of men who partook of that supper, were 
very much pleased and excited when they had done eating. 
They declared among themselves that Jesus had done wonders 
for them, that day. He had taught them, and healed all who 
were sick, and now He had fed them. 

They reasoned that He would make a good king, and rule 
them far more mercifully than that wicked Herod. 

The disciples began to share the excitement. Jesus knew 
the crowd would even take him by force and make him a king ; 
so He hastened to disperse the people and send them to their 
homes. 

He sent the disciples away first. They went very unwil- 
lingly, for they thought if Jesus was about to have a crown and 
a kingdom, they ought to be with Him. Bur He commanded 
them to enter their boat, and sail over the lake toward 
Capernaum. 

He then persuaded the multitude to go away. His gentle 
voice had such power over them that they moved on, a little 
reluctantly, however, for they really wished to make Him their 
ruler. 

At last they were gone, and our Saviour was alone. 

He went up the steep mountain side, to pray. The night 
was dark and stormy, but He loved to be on that hillside, 





BY GEORGE HAHN. 

IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS. 






BY GEORGE HAHN. 



THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 



FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. 137 

because He could there prav to His God without being dis- 
turbed. 

Where were the disciples ? They were in the boat, trying 
to sail across to the other shore. A terrible storm had arisen, 
and they could not manage the boat. 

Jesus saw them toiling with the rowing. He had not for- 
gotten them, but was watching them with tender care, as He 
stood on the mountain side. And while their hearts were shak- 
ing with fear, they saw, in the middle of the night, a figure of a 
man walking on the water, and coming toward them. 

They were terrified. It was dark and gloomy, and the winds 
were howling around them, and still they saw the figure ap- 
proach. And they cried out with fear : " It is a spirit ! " 

But Jesus spoke these reassuring words : 

" Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid." 

It must have been that Peter did not quite believe even 
then, for he asked the Lord if it were really He, that He 
would let him (Peter) come to Him on the water. 

Jesus simply said, " Come," and Peter went over the side 
of the boat, and began to walk on the waves. ' But he began to 
sink, and looking round, for the wind was strong, he began to 
be afraid, and cried out in terror : 

"Lord, save me!" 

Jesus wished to teach him a lesson of faith, for He chided 
him thus : 

" How little faith you have! Why did you doubt ? " 

But He stretched forth His hand and held Pqter up. 

While Peter looked at his Master, he walked safely on the 



138 



FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. 



water. But as soon as he began to iook round upon the sea, 
and felt the waves dashing against him, he grew faint-hearted, 
and then he sank. 

Just in this way, must we all look up to Jesus. When some 
sorrow comes, or some hard task is set for us, we must not 
think of the obstacles in the way, but look unto Jesus for 
courage, and He will give His Spirit to us, and lend us strength. 

The disciples were happy now that their Lord was in the 
boat with them again. The wind died down at once, the sea 
grew calm, and they soon reached the place where they wished 
to land. 

Then those who saw this strange thing cried out with one 
voice : 

" Of a truth you are the Son of God." 




In that same hour said Jesus to the multitude, Are ye 

come out as against a thief, with swords and staves for to 

take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and 

ye laid no hold on me. 

But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the 

prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook 

him, and fled. 

Matthew 26—55, 56. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



MANY DISCIPLES LEAVE JESUS. 

>HEN the Saviour worked the miracle of feeding 
the five thousand, some had remained behind. 
They had not seen Him depart in the boat, but 
in the morning when daylight came, He was 
not to be found. What had become of 
Him? 
They searched in vain. Some boats were lying 
there, which were bound for Capernasum. So 
the people entered the boats, and went to that 
place, still looking for Jesus. 

There they found Him in the synagogue, teaching. They 
were surprised, and said : 

" Master, when did you come hither ? " 
Then answered He : " You came for me, not because you 
wished to see miracles and have signs, but because I fed your 
bodies. 

"Think not of that which perisheth, but labor for that 
spiritual food which lasteth eternally." 

139 




140 MANY DISCIPLES LEAVE JESUS. 

They felt ashamed of this reproof, for they saw that He 
knew their most secret thoughts. 

" What shall we do," they asked, " that we might work the 
works of God?" 

His answer was: "This is the work of God, that ye be- 
lieve on Me." 

They would not take it home to their hearts, but nardened 
them, and asked : 

" What sign will you show us, that we may see and believe 
you? What miracles will you work?" 

What a question from those whom Jesus had taught so 
long and patiently. It must seem strange to you that those 
disciples who had the opportunity every day of seeing Jesus 
heal the sick and the deformed, and heard Him talk to the peo- 
ple, should have thought it necessary to ask for a sign that He 
was the Son of God. They were receiving such signs every 
day. 

Jesus heard them with divine patience. They said that 
their fathers did eat manna in the desert, for God gave them 
bread from heaven to eat. 

He told them that Moses could not give them true bread 
from heaven, but that God now sent them the bread of which 
He wished them to eat. 

Their answer came quickly: "Lord, give us this bread 
evermore." 

He said that He was that Bread of Life, and they who came 
to Him should never hunger, an^ they who believed on Him 
should never be thirsty. 



MANY DISCIPLES LEAVE JESUS. 141 

He also reproved them, for He said : "You have seen me, 
and still you do not believe on me. 

" Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 

"I come to do my Father's will, and this is His will — that 
every one who believes on me shall have eternal life, and I will 
raise him up at the last day." 

The Jews who were standing near, had listened to Jesus, 
and were very much incensed, as they always were, when He 
talked to the people. 

They began to complain, because He said, " I am the bread 
which came down from heaven." 

Again they asked the same question that His old neighbors 
did when He preached to them in the synagogue of His early 
home : 

"Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph whom we know? 
How does He say that He came down from heaven?" 

Jesus heard all they said : " Murmur not among your- 
selves. 

" For I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath ever- 
lasting life. 

" I am that Bread of Life. 

" I. am the living bread which came down from heaven. If 
any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever ; and the bread 
that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the 
world." 

The Jews argued with each other, still inquiring: "How 
can this man give us His flesh to eat ?" 

Jesus went on : "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye 



142 MANY DISCIPLES LEAVE JESUS. 

eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have 
no life in you." 

He did not mean His real flesh or real blood, but the teach- 
ings, the instructions, He gave them, they were to take into 
their souls, and feed upon ; and drink in His Spirit, that they 
might have everlasting life. 

But now His own disciples began to question and doubt. 
They could not receive the deep truths He was teaching them, 
and they complained thus : 

"This is a hard saying ; who can know what it means ?" 

Jesus asked the murmuring ones : " Does this displease 
you ?" 

He explained to them that it was the Spirit that gave life ; 
the flesh profited nothing. " The words that I soeak unto you, 
they are spirit, and they are life." 

For He knew from the beginning who believed, and who 
did not, also who would betray Him. 

From that time many of his disciples went away, and 
walked no more with Him. 

They had followed Him a long time, and had enjoyed hear- 
ing Him preach. But now they did not understand Him, and 
so they became vexed and dissatisfied. 

Jesus felt sad to see them go, for He knew they were turn- 
ing from the right way. 

But He had the Twelve left, and with sorrowful tones, He 
asked them : 

" Will you also go away?" 

Simon Peter spoke up affectionately : 



MANY DISCIPLES LEAVE JESUS. 143 

" Lord, to whom should we go ? Thou hast the words of 
eternal life. We believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, 
the son of the living God." 

Peter's heart was so full of tender trust that he thought all 
the rest of the Twelve felt as he did ; and so he spoke for all 
of them. 

But what was the Lord's reply ? 

" Have I not chosen you twelve ? And one of you is a 
devil." 

What did He mean? 

He knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him ; and he was 
one of the Twelve. 

How guilty the traitor must have felt when he heard that 
awful accusation. 





And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same 
coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O 
Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed 
with a devil. 

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came 
and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 
Then came she and worshiped him, saying Lord, 
help me. 

Matthew 15—22,23,25. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 



THE TYRIAN WOMAN. 

;HEN came to Jesus the Scribes and Pharisees 
from Jerusalem, and again they vexed Him with 
foolish questions. One of these men asked : 

" Why do your disciples break all the rules of 
the elders? They wash not their hands when 
they eat bread." 

He did not mean that the disciples were not 
neat and clean, but the Pharisees had a great many 
trifling and silly rules. Indeed, their religion was 
one of forms merely, and one of their rules required 
the washing of the hands as a symbol of purification before 
breaking bread. 

Jesus labored constantly to show the people that forms 
alone were useless ; that the spirit of love and faith was alone 
necessary to salvation. 

The disciples had set aside one of the " traditions " or cus- 
toms of the elders, and in their eyes it was a very serious 
offence. 

144 



THE TYRIAN WOMAN. 145 

Unless they washed their hands often, they thought they 
were defiled. They cleansed the vessels which they used 
about their homes, cups, pots, brazen vessels, tables, and every- 
thing that is used in a family, and they would not cook their 
breakfasts and their midday meals in the same cooking utensils, 
but had different sets for each meal. 

In their eyes, it was far more sinful to neglect or break one 
of these customs than it was to do a really wicked deed. Jesus 
therefore told them that they (the Pharisees) continually disre- 
garded the traditions of their fathers, rle spoke lightly of their 
observances. 

"Ye hypocrites," He said to them, "well did Isaiah proph- 
ecy of you, saying, 'This people draw nigh unto me with their 
mouths, and honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far 
from me.' " 

He further warned them that any one who took the sayings 
of men for a guide, did not worship Him. To enforce His 
meaning, He called the multitude, and said : 

" Hear and understand me. Not that which goeth into the 
mouth, maketh a man impure ; but that which cometh out of 
the mouth, maketh him impure." 

Even His chosen Twelve did not know what He meant, and 
He asked them if they, too, had as little intelligence as the 
Pharisees. 

He showed them that whatever entered the man from 
without, did not harm him, because it did not enter his heart, 
but that which proceedeth out of a man defiled him, if it was 
not good, as words and actions come from the heart, and from 



146 THE TYRIAN WOMAN. 

thence come evil thoughts, greediness, blasphemy, pride, fool- 
ishness, and many other sinful things. 

You see how necessary it is to watch our hearts, and keep 
them pure, so that no wicked thoughts may dwell there. And 
the best and only way to do this, is to ask God for help. 

After He had said these things He went away from the fault- 
finding people, and went to a part of the country which He had 
never visited — to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. Here dwelt 
a heathen people. He did not go there for the purpose of 
preaching, but that He might rest awhile, and be quiet. He 
went because the groups of people would not press upon Him 
continually here, as they had done in other places'. 

His beloved Twelve went with Him, and they all stopped at 
an obscure house, where He hoped no one would find Him. 

A woman lived near this house who had heard of the great 
Prophet of Nazareth, and she had longed earnestly to see Him. 

Now He was there, in her own country. Joy, indeed! for 
she had a young daughter who was afflicted with an unclean 
spirit. The mother knew that Jesus could make the evil spirit 
leave her, if He would, and she went to the house where He 
had gone for rest, and cried : 

" O Lord, thou Son of David, my daughter is grievously 
vexed with a devil-." 

Jesus was always ready to answer such entreaties, but now 
He said not a word. The disciples begged Him to send 
her awav. 

They wanted Jesus to cure the girl, but they wanted Him 
to be quick, and send the mother away, for she talked so loudly 



THE TYRIAN WOMAN. 147 

they feared others would hear her, and flock around their Mas- 
ter. And they came down there for rest. 

Jesus wanted to see how strong her faith was. So He said : 

" I am not sent to the Gentiles, but to save the lost sheep of 
the house of Israel." 

She was a Gentile, and many people would have felt angry 
or hurt at this rebuff, but she would not depart, but fell at His 
feet, saying—" Lord, help me." 

Jesus said : "It is not right to take the children's bread, and 
to cast it unto the dogs." 

And she replied : " That is true, Lord, yet the dogs under 
the table eat of the children's crumbs. I do not ask for the 
bread. I am satisfied with the crumbs." 

You see how humble she was. She was content with a very 
little notice from our Lord. 

Jesus was pleased with her humility and faith, and so He 
said to her : 

" For thy humble words, I will reward thee. Go thy way. 
The evil spirit has gone out of thy daughter." 

And on going to her own house, she found her daughter 
well, and she was laid upon the bed. 

The faith of this woman was extraordinary, for she belonged 
to another country, which had only heard rumors of what Jesus 
had done. She was patient, and even when Jesus seemed to 
pay her no attention, she persevered in her appeal for help. 

She was very humble. Although she felt her own unworth- 
iness, still she was sure He would not despise her. 



And great multitudes came unto him, having with them 
those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, 
and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them; 
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the 
ground. 

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave 
thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the 
disciples to the multitude. 

Matthew 15— 30, 35, 36. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

PEOPLE CURED AND FED. 

UR Saviour went about a great deal in those 
days. Leaving Tyre and Sidon He came to a 
part of the land known as Decapolis. 

He was talked about here. The miracles 
He had done were known. The man who had 
so many devils came to this neighborhood and 
told every one who would listen to him, how 
Jesus had made his mind clear once more. 
They brought a man who was deaf and had 
a defect in his speech to Him. And they begged Him to 
restore him. 

The Saviour took him away from the rest of the people, 
and put His fingers in his ears, and then He spit and touched 
his tongue. Looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said — " Be 
opened." 

And the man's ears were opened, and his tongue was loosed, 
and he heard and spoke readily. 

Jesus charged him not to speak of his cure to any one. 

148 




PEOPLE CURED AND FED. 149 

But the man did not obey, for he and his friends spread the 
news everywhere. 

All who heard of this last miracle were willing to give Him 
all praise. 

" He hath done everything well," they said. " He makes the 
deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." 

After this the throngs of people, bringing the lame, and 
blind, and deaf, grew greater, and as the days passed, each 
brought its care and work, and still Jesus ministered to the 
needs of all. 

For three days the people had remained listening to the 
words of Jesus. It was summer, and the nights were warm. 

On the third day, when all the provisions were gone, the 
disciples once more, as they did on that other occasion, wanted 
Him to send the. people away, so they could find food for 
themselves. 

But Jesus' heart was full of pity. He was a loving friend 
as well as a teacher. So He would not send them away fasting. 

He said — " If I send them away hungry, they will faint by 
the wayside." 

Most of them had come a long distance, and had brought 
nothing with them to eat. 

The disciples were not as kind as they should be, for they 
asked impatiently how they could find bread for them, for they 
were in a wilderness, and could not purchase food to satisfy 
these hungry ones. 

Jesus questioned.: ' How many loaves have you ? " 

"Seven," was their reply. 



150 



PEOPLE CURED AND FED. 



Jesus bade them all sit down upon the grass, and He took 
the seven loaves and a few tiny fishes which they had, and 
blessed them, and began to break them up for the crowd. And 
they all ate of the bread and fishes, and had plenty. 

So great was the abundance that they took of the broken 
fragments that were left, seven baskets full, and they all departed 
to their homes. 

This was the second time that Jesus had worked a miracle 
by feeding great numbers. 




And when ye shall hear of wars, ana rumors of wars, be 
ye not troubled; for such things must needs be; but the end 
shall not be yet. 

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against 
kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, 
and there shall be famines and troubles; these are the 
beginnings of sorrows. 

Mark 13— 7, 8. 




w^ 



CHAPTER XXX. 



COMING SORROWS. 



;HE time had come for Jesus to go away again, 
so He took his disciples, and returned to the 
shores of Gennesareth. Here He entered a 
town called Magdala. 

No sooner had He reached the place, than His 
enemies, the Pharisees, always seeking to annoy 
Him, came round Him, demanding a sign. 

Many questions they asked Him, tempting 
Him to anger if they could, and then they called 
to Him to give them some sign from heaven, to 
show that He was God. 

Jesus felt very sad, and He mourned that that generation 
should insist on having a sign, but he said they should have none. 
He left them. He knew they hated Him, and going into a 
boat, He sailed away over the lake to another place. 

When they went into this strange place the disciples had 
forgotten to bring food, and they began to complain about it to 
each other. 

151 



152 COMING SORROWS. 

Jesus showed them how weak was their faith. They had 
apparently forgotten the two miraculous repasts He had given 
the multitudes. If they had not, they would not have been at 
all worried because they had so little— but one small loaf of bread. 

They brought a man to Jesus who was blind, and implored 
Him to make him see. He took hold of the blind man's hand, 
and tenderly led him away from the people, out of the town. 

Then the Saviour spat upon his eyes, and laid His hands 
upon him, and asked him if he could see anything. 

The man looked around, and said : " I see men like trees, 
walking." 

Again the Lord put His hands upon his eyes, and told him 
to look up. This time the blind man saw everything plainly, 
for his sight was perfect. 

Jesus sent him to his own home, and told him not to go 
near the town to tell any one that He had cured him. The 
people of that town were unbelievers, and did not love Jesus. 
So He did not wish them to know anything about it. 

Jesus and His chosen Twelve journeyed on, and soon He 
asked them : " Whom do men .say that I am ?" 

They said : " Some think that you are John the Baptist ; 
some say that you are Elias, or one of the prophets." 

Does it not seem strange that those people who had seen 
Him so often do such wonderful things, should still doubt 
Him ? Still regard Him as only a prophet ? And yet they had 
frequently exclaimed that He was the Son of God, but it was 
only a fleeting conviction. They did not truly believe what 
they said, or they would not have talked so differently at times. 




BY H. HOFMANN. 

"WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER/' ETC 




BY H. HOFMANN. 



CHRIST APPEARS TO MARY. 



COMING SORROWS. 155 

Jesus asked His disciples : " But whom do you say that I am?" 

Peter responded at once, fervently: "Thou art the Christ." 

The Saviour said : ' You are blessed. For no man has 
taught you this, save God, the Father, which is in heaven." 

He then began to tell them some very sorrowful things ; 
that He must go to Jerusalem, and be treated very rudely, even 
cruelly ; that He would be rejected and cast out by the elders 
and the chief priests, and the Scribes. 

And, what is more dreadful still for those loving disciples 
to hear, He told them He was to be killed, but that after three 
days He should rise again. 

Now their hearts were indeed troubled. What, their Mas- 
ter was to suffer death ? He, the Son of God, to be killed by 
the people at Jerusalem ? 

No, this could not be. Their hearts ached at the thought, 
and Peter, who was ever earnest and impulsive, forgot almost 
for the moment that it was God who was speaking of those 
things which were sure to come, and he seized hold of Jesus' 
garments, and said : 

'This shall not happen to you, oh Lord !" 

A few moments before he showed perfect faith. Now he 
spoke as though he knew better than his Master. 

Swift and sharp was the rebuke that he received : 

" Get thee behind me, Satan. Your thoughts are not from 
God, but from men." 

He meant that it was Satan who was prompting Peter to 
speak to Him in that doubting manner. 

The other disciples listened, with their heads bowed in 



156 COMING SORROWS. 

grief. They did not know what He would teach when He 
spoke of rising from the dead: They did not understand 
either that sinful man could only reach heaven through the 
death of Jesus ; that by dying on the cross He bore the punish- 
ment of our many sins. They were touched by its sadness, 
but did not see its necessity. 

He went on telling them that trials, and hardships and sor- 
rows, were for His followers also. They must endure cheer- 
fully shame, ridicule, scorn, even death, for His sake. 

He promised them also, that He should come down from 
heaven one day, in the glory of His Father, with the holy 
angels. And then the true and faithful would be rewarded. 

He taught them how much better it was to be good and 
self-denying than selfish and anxious for this world's goods. 

" For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole 
world, and lose his own soul ?" 

He warned them further that whoever was ashamed of Him, 
He would be ashamed of them when He came again in glory. 

He told them that some of those who were standing there, 
should not die until they had seen the Son of man coming in 
His kingdom. 

He was going to show three of them His glory very soon. 
He knew it would give them strength to bear the sorrows that 
were coming after. 

The disciples heard Him with deep anguish. " They knew 
now that trouble was coming to them, but they would not leave 
their Master. They loved Him so dearly they were ready to 
bear anything for His dear sake. 



And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his 
brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, 
And was transfigured before them; and his face did 
shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 
And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and 
Elias talking with him. 

Matthew 17—1, 2, 3. 




CHAPTER XXXI. 



THE TRANSFIGURATION. 



5>OT many days after that talk with the Apostles, 
when the Lord had told them He must die, He 
took three of them — Peter, James and John — 
up to the top of a high mountain. 

The three disciples were very weary after 
climbing, for the mountain was very steep and 
rugged. But they were glad to go wherever their 
dear Master led, so they did not complain. 

It was now evening, and they grew very 
sleepy. So they lay down upon the grass, and 
soon fell asleep, but Jesus did not sleep. He was praying to 
His Father in heaven. And while He prayed, a wonderful 
change came over Him. 

His face became bright and shining as the sun, and His 
raiment grew white as the snow, when it first falls on the 
ground; whiter, the Bible tells us, than fuller's earth could 
make it. 

And Jesus was not alone. Two men stood talking with 

157 



158 THE TRANSFIGURATION. 

Him. They, too, were all brightness and glory. They talked 
with Jesus, concerning the death He should die at Jerusalem. 

The light that shone around the Saviour was so dazzling 
that it awoke the sleeping disciples, and they started up to their 
knees, overcome with awe. 

They gazed upon their Lord, transfigured before them. 
They saw also the two men who were talking with Him, and 
knew at once that they were Moses, that great prophet and 
lawgiver who had lived on earth so many hundred years before, 
and Elijah, who was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. 

Peter, James and John heard all they were saying ; and 
they were talking with the Lord^ about the persecutions and 
sufferings He was about to undergo. 

Peter, who always seemed to be the quickest to think, and 
the most ready to speak, said : 

" Lord, it is good for us to be here. If thou wilt, we will 
raise here three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and 
one for Elias." 

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them 
all ; and they felt great fear as its brightness covered them. 

Then a voice from the cloud was heard : 

" This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ; hear 
Him." 

It was the voice of the Father ! God Himself was speaking 
to them. But they were sore afraid, and fell on their faces on 
the ground. But their fear departed, as Jesus gently touched 
them, and said : 

" Arise, and fear not." 



THE TRANSFIGURATION. 



159 



They raised their eyes, and lo ! no one was there, save 
Jesus. The prophets had departed. 

When they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged 
them strictly that they should tell no one what they had seen, 
until after He had risen from the dead. 

And they obeyed him, and never spoke of it even to the 
rest of the Apostles. But they often talked about it to each 
other, and still they wondered what rising from the dead could 
mean. 




And when they were come to the multitude, there 

came to him a certain man kneeling down to him, and saying, 

Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and sore 

vexed; for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the 

water. 

And 1 brought him to thy disciples, and they could not 

cure him. 

Matthew 17— U, 15, 16. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

THE AFFLICTED BOY. 

>HEN Jesus and Peter, James and John reached 

the foot of the mountain, they saw the other 

nine apostles in a group ; crowds of people were 

gathering around them, while the Scribes were 

asking them so many questions that they seemed 

perplexed and ashamed. 

As Jesus drew near, the people ran to Him, 

and saluted Him. But as they gazed into His 

face they showed astonishment, for some of the 

glory yet lingered there, and they beheld it. 

There was great excitement among the numbers collected 

there, and Jesus inquired of the Scribes : 

" What are you disputing about with them ?" 

They had not had time to answer, before a man roughly 

pushed his way through the mass of people, till he reached the 

spot where Jesus stood. He then knelt humbly before him, 

and cried : 

" Oh, Master, I have a son, my only child. I beseech you 

160 




THE AFFLICTED BOY. 161 

to look upon him. He is deaf and dumb. This spirit," he con- 
tinued, " wherever he taketh him, teareth him, and he foameth 
at the mouth, and gnasheth his teeth. Often he falls into the fire, 
and often into the water. My boy is sick, and is pining away." 

What a terrible affliction that was. No wonder the poor 
man longed to tell his story to Jesus. 

But he had more to say. He told him that he had asked 
the Apostles to cast out this evil spirit, and they could not. 

The Saviour had given these followers full power to heal 
the sick, and cast out devils. And yet they had not been able 
to help this poor boy. 

Their failure made them look both distressed and mortified. 
Jesus knew why they had not succeeded in performing his 
work, and as soon as the father had done talking, He turned to 
them, with these words of blame : 

" Oh, faithless people, how long snail I be with you? How 
long must I bear with you ? Bring your son to me." 

The boy was brought at once to Jesus. And when he came, 
he fell on the ground, and writhed in agony. 

" How long has he been this way ?" asked Jesus. 

" From a little child. Oh, will you not have compassion 
upon his sufferings, and help him?" pleaded the father. 

Jesus merely answered : " If you can believe, it will be 
well. All things are possible to those who believe." 

See how little the loving Saviour asks ; merely that we be- 
lieve on Him. Then everything becomes easy to us. 

The father cried joyfully, while the tears streamed down his 
face : 



162 THE AFFLICTED BOY. 

" Lord, I do believe. Help thou my unbelief." 

The people came running up nearer to the place where 
Jesus stood, which, on His seeing, He reproved the wicked 
spirit, and bade it come out from the boy, and never enter him 
again. 

Did the wicked spirit do so willingly ? 

It cried, and screamed, and convulsed the boy. And when 
it had gone out of him, the boy lay upon the ground so still 
and rigid that he looked as if he were dead. 

Many who saw him exclaimed : " He is dead." 

Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and gave 
him into his father's care. 

Again were the people amazed at the wonderful power of 
God. But even now they were not ready to praise Him. 

When Jesus came into the house where the Apostles were, 
they asked Him why they had not been able to rid the boy of 
the evil spirit. 

He said to them : "This kind of a spirit is only cast out 
by earnest prayer and fasting. You did not have faith strong 
enough." 

That was the reason they failed. They did not rely on their 
Master's promises as they should ; their faith and trust were 
daily growing weaker. They should have prayed without 
ceasing. 

He said to them: "Verily I say unto you, if you have 
faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this moun- 
tain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove. And 
nothing shall be impossible unto you." 



THE AFFLICTED BOY. 165 

He wished to impress upon them how necessary faith in 
His promises was. 

This story teaches you, dear children, how much depends 
on faith. This poor boy was under the influence of Satan. Are 
you not equally so, when you give way to angry passions, and 
quarrel with your companions? or are disobedient or disre- 
spectful to your parents ? 

You then place yourself in Satan's power. He is strong, 
and will conquer you, unless you go humbly to God, and pray 
for strength to resist him. But you must have faith that God 
will answer your prayer. 

Faith is what your heavenly Father demands first ; perfect 
confidence in His power. When you have that, you will over- 
come all evil. 

These evil spirits that torment you, by trying to possess 
your heart, can be cast out by yourselves. How, you ask ? 
By prayer and by faith. 




And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith 

unto them, If any man desire to be first the same shall be last 

of all, and servant of all. 

And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them; 

and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 

Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my 

name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me 

receiveth not me, but Him that sent me. 

Mark 9—35, 36, 37. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

JESUS TEACHES THE TWELVE. 

NCE more Jesus was back in Capernaeum, but 

He wished no one to know that He was there. 

The Pharisees and the rulers had seen Him 

do many great works there, but still they hated 

Him bitterly. 

He had taught them for along time, but their 
hearts were so hard that they would not repent 
of their evil ways. 

So He came back secretly, because He had 
determined to teach the people no longer. His purpose from 
this time was to train and instruct the twelve apostles so that 
they might carry on His work after He had gone away from 
them. He often repeated now the sad story which they could 
not bear to hear, that 

"The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, 
and they shall kill Him." 

But He always promised them that after His death He 
should rise on the third day. 

164 




JESUS TEACHES THE TWELVE. 165 

They had not yet come to understand what He meant by 
rising on the third day, and they were afraid to ask Him. 

But they tried to be happy in the thought that He was 
their Lord, the Messiah, and that He would reign in glory, and 
they believed they would be permitted to be with Him. 

They did not realize that suffering and death would have to 
come first before this glory they so longed to share with Him. 

On their way to Capernaeum, they began to dispute among 
themselves, as to which one of them would be the greatest 
when they should enter the kingdom of heaven with their 
Lord ! 

It is sad to think that those disciples who had the blessed 
privilege of living every day with the meek and lowly Jesus, 
were so full of selfishness and pride, and not at all like Him. 

« 

He was humble-minded, but they were not. 

They grew so angry over the question of which would be 
placed the highest in heaven, and disputed so loudly, that the 
Saviour, who was walking a little way ahead, heard their 
voices. 

He did not chide them at that moment, but when He reached 
the city, He said to them, after they entered the house: 

"What were you quarreling about with each other on 
the way ? " 

No one answered. They felt too ashamed to reply. They 
had shown so different a spirit from His own, that they felt 
very guilty. . 

Jesus sat down, and calling the Twelve to Him, He gave 
them a lesson on their conduct, in this wise: 



166 JESUS TEACHES THE TWELVE. 

' If any man wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all, and 
become a servant to the rest." 

Another lesson on the beauty of being lowly-minded, and 
not thinking so much of one's self. 

Then He called a little child, and taking him in His arms, 
He said: 

" Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, 
receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not 
me, but Him that sent me." 

This child whom Jesus took in His arms, must have been 
a gentle, loving little boy, else the Saviour would not have 
chosen him for a symbol. 

He wished His disciples to feel that they must become sim- 
ple and innocent as all good children are. The little ones 
whom our Saviour loves best are those who do not think most 
of themselves, and their own pleasure, but look after the com- 
fort of others. The obedient and humble-minded ones are 
very dear to Him. For all who would follow Him, must be as 
little children. He says: 

" Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek 
and lowly in heart." 

He said to them: " I am the true vine, and my Father is 
the husbandman. 

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear 
fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except 
ye abide in me. 

" I am the vine and ye are the branches." 

Christ likened Himself to a vine because He was fruitful of 



JESUS TEACHES THE TWELVE. 167 

all good works, and the disciples when they did as He com- 
manded them, had His holy Spirit in them, and produced good 
works also. 

John said to Him: "Master, we saw a man casting out 
devils in Thy name, and we forbade his doing so, because he 
did not follow us." 

John secretly felt that they had done wrong in reproving the 
man for doing a good work, and he wanted to know what the 
Saviour would say about it. He did not approve of their con- 
duct, for He said : 

" Forbid him not. For there is no man who shall do a 
miracle in my name, who can speak evil of me." 

If the man had not believed in our Lord he could not have 
performed a miracle. 

Peter now had a question to ask his dear Master. 

" Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I for- 
give him ? Till seven times?" 

Jesus said unto him : " I say not unto thee, until seven 
times, Dut until seventy times seven." 

He meant that they must forgive again and again, and freely 
forgive from the heart. They must not say they forgave when 
their hearts were full of hatred and revenge. 

Then the Apostles humbly asked Him to increase their 
faith. They knew how hard it was to be filled with this for- 
giving spirit, and they asked Him for help, just as you must 
when you find it hard to overlook some injury that has been 
done to you. 



Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye 

both know me, and ye knew whence I am : And I am not come 

of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 

But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood 

and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, 

and drink. 

John 7—28,29,37. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE. 

FESTIVAL was about to take place which was 
always an occasion of great joy and feasting, at 
Jerusalem. 

It was held in commemoration of the boun- 
teous crops of grains and fruits which had been 
given them by a kind Father, and for which they 
were truly grateful. 

This feast was held at the end of every year, 
and everybody who could leave home, went up 
to the Holy City to take part in it. It was called the Feast of 
Tabernacles. 

But Jesus would not go with His brethren when they re- 
quested Him to. They did not yet believe in Him wholly, and 
still they were very anxious that He should go there and per- 
form some miracles before the immense throng of people they 
expected would be there. 

His answer to their plea was very humble : 

168 




JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE. 169 

" My time is not yet come ; but your time is always come. 
The world cannot hate you ; but it hates me, because I tell the 
people that they are wicked. 

" Go ye up unto this feast. I go not yet ; for my proper 
time has not yet come." 

When His brothers found He would not go with them, they 
started on to the feast. Jesus had said it was not time for 
Him to go, so He waited till nearly every one had gone, and 
then He followed secretly with His disciples. 

The Jews expected to meet Him at this feast, and they be- 
gan looking diligently for Him. And they kept asking each 
other, " Where is He ?" 

This led the people to talk about Him. Some said : "He 
is a good man," while more said, " He is not good ; He de- 
ceiveth the people." 

I am sorry to say that you will often find more people ready 
to speak ill of any one, than good. Would this be so, if we 
tried faithfully to "love our neighbors as ourselves," and 
treated them gently and charitably ? 

This feast was usually kept up about eight days. On the 
fourth day the people were surprised to see Jesus walking into 
the temple, where He at once began to teach. 

The Jews at once gave Him close attention, but were much 
puzzled at His learning, and began to question how it was that 
He, who was only a carpenter's son, knew so much. 

Jesus took no credit to Himself for what He knew. He 
said : 

".My knowledge is not mine. It comes from my heavenly 



170 . JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE. 

Father. It you obeyed God's will you would know at once 
that what I teach you comes from God." 

They were suddenly struck dumb by a question which He 
asked them, which showed them that every thought of their 
hearts was laid bare before Him : 

" Why do you go about to kill me ?" 

They answered Him with cruel roughness : 

" Thou hast a devil. Who goeth about to kill thee ?" 

Jesus told them so gently how He had cured the sick man 
at Betnesda, and of other good works He had done. 

" Why should you," He asked, " be angry with me for do- 
ing good works on the Sabbath day?" 

For answer to this, some of. the Jews who belonged in 
Jerusalem, began to cry loudly : 

" Is not this the man whom they seek to kill ? He speaks 
with great boldness, and they do not answer Him. Do the 
rulers really believe that He is the Messiah ? 

" We know this man. He cannot be Christ, for when He 
comes, no man can tell from whence He comes." 

Our Saviour said to them : " You know me, it is true, and 
you know, too, that I am not come of myself, but I am sent by 
that God of whom you know nothing." ^ 

Some who heard Him speak thus, believed on Him at once. 

They were satisfied that He was telling the truth, and 
they said : 

" When Christ cometh, can He do any more miracles than 
those which this man has done ?" 

The Pharisees and chief priests were very indignant. They 



JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE. 171 

were vexed that any one should believe on Jesus, and they sent 
some soldiers to take Him. 

When the soldiers drew near, they heard the blessed words 
the Saviour was saying : 

" If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. 

" He that betieveth on me shall drink of rivers of flowing 
water." 

And there arose a dispute among those who heard Him, 
some saying He was the Christ, and others denying it because 
He came out of Galilee, while they looked for the Messiah to 
be of the House of David, and be born in Bethlehem. . 

You see they did not know that our blessed Lord was born 
in Bethlehem. 

So the soldiers did not dare to lay their hands on so holy a 
teacher ; and when they returned to those who had sent them, 
they were wroth with the soldiers, and demanded why they 
had not brought Jesus. 

The soldiers said with one accord: "Never man spoke 
like this one." 

The Pharisees were furious. "Are you deceived also ?" 
they said. " Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed 
on Him yet?" , 

One of the rulers did believe on Him— the same one who 
came to learn of Jesus by night. Nicodemus was his 
name. 

But he did not have courage to say openly that he believed 
on the Lord Jesus, but he wanted to say something in his be- 
half, so he spoke timidly : 



172 JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE. 

' Our law does not judge any man before it hears him, and 
knows of what fault he is accused." 

The other rulers were offended to think that one of their 
number would appear to take his part, so they sneered at 
Nicodemus : 

" Art thou, too, a believer on Him? Search and look ; for 
no prophet shall ever arise out of Galilee." 

Then every man went to his own house. 

But Jesus had no home to go to. So He went up into the 
Mount of Olives, and there He staid all through that lonely 
night, but in the morning He came down and went into the 
temple, to preach. 

The people came about Him to listen. And the Scribes and 
Pharisees, who were resolved to torment Him all they could,, 
brought a woman before Him, who had done some great sin. 

They set her in the midst of all those men, and they gazed 
at her, some with pity because she had done wrong, and some 
with bitter scorn. 

Then they told Him that Moses had written in his law, that 
such women should be stoned. But they wanted to hear what 
punishment Jesus would say she deserved. 

They were trying to tempt Him to defy one of their ancient 
laws, so that they might have some chance to bring reproach 
upon Him. 

But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote upon 
the ground, as if He did not hear them. 

They persisted in asking Him, and at last He stood up in 
His majesty, and said solemnly :. 



JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE. 17> 

" He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a 
stone at her." 

Then He stooped again, and wrote with His finger upon the 
ground. 

They were convicted at once. Conscience spoke to every 
one of them, and they went out, one by one, even unto the 
very last man. 

And Jesus was left standing alone, with the woman. He 
looked around, and seeing no one but the poor, miserable 
creature, whose form was bowed with shame, He said unto 
her : 

"Who accuses thee, woman? Has no man condemned 
thee ?" 

She said, "No man has, Lord." 

Jesus said unto her : " Neither do I condemn thee. Go, 
and sin no more." 

Then Jesus addressed the people again : 

" 1 am the light of the world. He that followeth me snail 
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

The Pharisees contradicted Him. They said: "You are 
praising yourself. You are not speaking truth." 

Jesus feared them not. He knew His time to die was 
close at hand, and He talked very plainly to them. He told 
them if they did not repent, and believe that He was the Son of 
God, they would perish in their sins. 

The Jews answered that God was their Father. But He 
told them that they were not God's children, else they would 
accept Him. Rather were they the children of the devil. They 



174 JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE. 

were, He said, given to lying, and hardness of heart. But that 
they could not believe, because they were not of God. 

They argued with Him, and told Him He had a devil, be- 
cause He promised them if they would believe on Him, that 
they should not see death. But He repeated His words, and 
told them how wicked they were. 

They were determined now that He should die. So they 
took up stones to throw at Him, for they wanted to stone Him 
to death. 

You remember that He hid Himself from the Nazarenes 
when they tried to dash Him over the precipice? Well, He 
now worked a miracle like unto that one. He hid Himself 
again from His enemies, and passing out of the temple, 
through the infuriated Pharisees, He escaped in safety. 




And as Jesus passed by. '..e saw a man which was blind 

from his birth. 

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did 

sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind! 

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his 

parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest 

in him. 

John 9—1, 2, 3. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



THE BLIND MAN. 

tTER Jesus had so mysteriously left the temple, 
He saw a man who was born blind. 
It is a terrible thought that he had never seen 
this lovely world that God has made for our 
dwelling-place; he had never looked upon the 
dear faces of his father and mother; never had 
seen the sky at night when the stars sparkled in 
its blue depths, nor the sun by day, when its 
golden rays light up the earth. 
This poor man had never seen any of these things, and the 
disciples inquired of Jesus: 

" Master, why was this man born blind? Was it because 
he sinned, or because his parents were great sinners ? " 

Jesus told them that neither he nor his parents had sinned; 
but that God had a purpose in making the man blind, and that 
purpose was, so that the *X)wer of God should be made olain 
through him. 

He told them that He must do the will of God while He 

175 




176 THE BUND MAN. 

was with them, nor wait, for the time would come when it 
would be night, and no more work could be done. 

He referred to the hour when He should be taken away, to 
die on the cross. 

The blind man did not think the Saviour would notice him. 
He did not know how full of compassion He was, and that He 
never forgot the most miserable being. 

So Jesus stopped, and spat on the ground, and made a clay 
which He spread on the sightless eyes of the blind man. 

Then He said to him: "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." 

The man asked no questions, but hurried away to the pool, 
which he entered, and in a moment he saw everything around — 
the earth, the sky, the people, and, best of all, he saw the face 
of Jesus. 

Those who had often seen this man, knew he had been blind 
and they could scarcely believe their own senses, but asked 
each other: 

" Is not this the blind man who sat and begged by the gate? " 

Some testified that it was he, while others were not sure, 
out said: " It looks like him." 

But he answered: " I am that man." They asked him how 
his eyes became opened. And he told them the story of his 
great joy. 

" A man named Jesus put clay on my eyes, and anointed 
them, and then He bade me go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. 
And I went and washed, and received my sight." 

" Where is He? " was their next question. 

He said: " I do not know." 



THE BLIND MAN. 177 

This miracle was wrought on the Sabbath day. And the 
people carried this man who had been blind, in to the Pharisees. 

Then the Pharisees questioned him as to what had been 
done to his eyes. 

Again he told them of Jesus, and what He had done 
for him. 

Some of them, when they heard this, said: 

" This man is not of God, because He does not keep the 
Sabbath day." 

Others said: " He cannot be a sinner, else how can He do 
such miracles ? " 

Thus they disputed and differed for a long time. They 
turned to the blind man, and asked him what his opinion was 
about the man who had restored his sight. 

His answer was prompt: " He is a prophet. ' : 

Then the Jews tried to make themselves believe that the 
man was never blind, so they called his parents. 

They were so stubborn that they would not receive the 
truth. 

When the parents came, they said: 

" Is this your son whom you say was born blind? How is 
it that he can see now? " 

These parents were not willing to acknowledge what they 
secretly believed, that Jesus was the Lord, for it had been 
threatened that any man who confessed that, should be put 
•out of the synagogue. 

So they said: " We know that this is our son, and that he 
was born blind. But by what mean* he sees now, we do not 



i : o THE BLIND MAN. 

know, nor who hath worked this cure. He is of age. Ask him; 
he will be able to tell you." 

They called the man who had been blind, and said: " Give 
God the praise for this thing. We know that this man whom 
you say did it, is a sinner." 

He was resolute in one thing. He would give the praise to- 
Jesus. He replied: 

' Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. But I do- 
know one thing, and that is, that while I was blind before, I can 
see now." 

Again they asked him: "What did He do to you? How 
did He open your eyes? " 

He grew tired of their teasing, for he said: " I have told 
you already, but you would not believe me. Why do you wish 
me to tell it again. Would you like to be His disciples? " 

They scoffed at him, saying: "You are His disciple; but 
we follow Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses; but 
as for this fellow, we know not from whence He came." 

The man had a grateful heart and a brave spirit. He re- 
proved the Pharisees thus: 

" Why, here is a strange .thing, that you who pretend to 
know so much, do riot know from whence He comes, and yet 
He hath given me my sight. Now God does not answer sin- 
ners. But when a man worships God, and does His will, He 
listens to him. Never before, since the world began, has such 
a wonder as this been performed. If this man were not from 
God, He could do nothing." 

When He "ttered these bold words, they decided to punish 



THE BLIND MAN. 179 

Him, and they said to the man : ' You were born wholly in 
sin, and do you dare to teach us?" 

So they ordered that He should be shut out of the syna- 
gogue for presuming to teach them. For thirty days He could 
not enter its walls. 

This was deemed a great disgrace to be cast forth from the 
synagogue. It not only deprived Him of the privilege of the 
synagogue, but He became an outcast and a wanderer from 
His own father's house. 

But he had his reward. He was one of those chosen to 
suffer persecution for Christ's sake. 

When Jesus heard how the Pharisees had punished the 
man, He went to find him. He asked Him : 

" Do you believe on the Son of God ?" 

He said to Jesus: "Who is He, Lord? I would like to 
believe on Him." 

Jesus made answer : "Thou hast seen Him. It is He that 
talketh with thee." 

The man said : " Lord, I believe." 

And he fell down and worshiped Him. 

The man was doubly blessed. Jesus had opened his heart 
as well as his eyes, and light had been shed into his soul. And 
thus he found everlasting life. 



After these things, the Lord appointed other seventy 

also, and sent them, two and two, before his face into 

every city and place, whither he himself would come. 

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among 

wolves. 

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace 

be to this house. 

Luke 10—1, 3, 5. 




CHAPTER XXXVI. 



CHOOSING THE SEVENTY. 



;HE time was drawing very near when Jesus was 

to be crucified. He knew how little while He 

would be with them, and He had much to do 

yet, and He wished to go about to a great many 

places. 

He had decided not to teach in Samaria any 
more, for He had sent two of the disciples into 
that country to tell them that He was coming, but 
the people "would not receive them. 

James and John were so angry at this treat- 
ment, that they asked the Lord if He was willing that they 
should call down fire from heaven and consume their villages, 
as a fit punishment for their unbelief. 

Jesus would not listen to this. He told them that they 
were cherishing revengeful feelings, which were sinful. He 
rebuked them sharply : 

"The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but 
to save them." 

180 



CHOOSING THE SEVENTY. 18] 

And they went into another village. Here He met a man 
who said he would follow Him wherever He went. 

Jesus told him that He had no home. " Foxes have holes, 
and birds of the air have nests. But the Son of man has no 
place to lay His head." 

To another man whom He met, He called : " Follow me." 

But this man wanted to perform some duty first. And 
Jesus told him he must leave all things undone, if he were 
in the way of looking after the kingdom of God. 

" No man," He said, " having given himself to the work, and 
regrets it, or looks back on what he has left behind, is fit to 
enjoy the kingdom of God." 

He was going to the country beyond the Jordan to devote 
the last few weeks of His life to speaking to the people there 
of the Saviour who was so soon to die for sinners. 

The harvest was a rich one, but the laborers were few. So 
He appointed seventy men, beside the twelve Apostles, and 
sent them on before, two by two, into every town and city 
which He was going to visit afterward. 

These seventy men were earnest followers of the Lord 
Jesus. Good men they were, who believed fully in Him, and 
loved to obey Him. 

These are the instructions which He gave them : 

" Go your ways. Behold, I send you forth as lambs among 
wolves." 

He charged them to carry neither money, nor satchel, nor 
shoes. And they were to speak to no man whom they met op 
the way. 



182 CHOOSING THE SEVENTY. 

Whenever they entered a house they were to first say : 
" Peace be to this house." 

And if harmony dwelt in that house, they were to remain, 
and eat and drink of such things as were offered them, and 
not run from house to house. 

They were to do works of mercy, such as healing the sick, 
and casting out evil spirits, and were to preach that the king- 
dom of God was near at hand. 

And when they were rejected by any city, they were to 
shake the dust from their feet, but were to warn that place of 
its wickedness, and tell them too, to tremble, for the kingdom 
of God was nigh unto them. 

And the seventy men went forth upon their mission, and 
did faithfully all that they were commanded to. 

After a certain time they came back, and joyfully told their 
Lord of their success. They were so rejoiced that they said 
eagerly : 

" Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy 
name." 

He answered: "Behold, I give you power to destroy all 
wicked things, and to triumph over the enemy." 

But He warned them against pride at the power they pos- 
sessed : " Rejoice not, because you can conquer evil spirits, 
but rather rejoice that you are chosen for that work." 

The names of this chosen Seventy are not given. But 
the Lord had told them that their names were written in the 
Book of Life. 

The Twelve were not so blessed. One of the Twelve was 



CHOOSING 'THE SEVENTY. 183 

wicked beyond belief. Though he had power to do great 
works, yet was his own soul full of evil. 

Our Lord once said : " I have chosen you Twelve, but one 
of you is a devil." 

A certain lawyer standing near thought he would make our 
Saviour say something that would sound wrong, and he asked 
Him : " What shall I do to inherit eternal life ?" 

Jesus made the man answer His own question. For He 
said : " What is written in the law ? How do you understand 
it?" 

And he repeated the law : "Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 
strength, and with all thy mind ; and thy neighbor as thv- 
self." 

And He said unto him : "Thou hast answered right. Do 
all this, and thou shalt live." 

But he wanted to excuse himself for his misunderstanding 
of the law, and he asked : " Who is my neighbor?" 

Jesus answered him with a story : 

A certain man went down from Jerusalem, to Jericho, and 
fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes, and beat 
him, leaving him half dead. As the man was lying there, 
wounded and miserable, a haughty priest came that way, and 
seeing only a wretched looking being lying there, he passed by 
on the other side. 

And a proud Levite came and looked at the suffering man, 
and he, too, crossed over to the other side, without doing any- 
thing for him. 



184 CHOOSING THE SEVENTY. 

But a Samaritan who chanced to be journeying that way, 
saw what a sad plight he was in, and instead of passing him by 
as the others had done, he dismounted from the animal he was 
riding, and ran to the bleeding man, and poured oil and wine 
upon his wounds, and bound them up. His kindness did 
not stop here. He placed the man upon his own beast, while 
he walked slowly by his side, and he brought him to an inn, 
and staid there with him and took care of him. 

The next morning he was compelled to start on his jour- 
ney again, and leave the sick man behind. But he went to the 
landlord, and paid him some money to take care of the man 
until he should get well, and told him if it cost any more than 
that, he would repay the innkeeper when he came again. 

And surely he would, too, for a man who was so tender and 
merciful would keep his word. 

When Jesus had finished telling this story, He asked the 
lawyer, which of the three men, the priest, the Levite, or the 
Samaritan, had acted most like a neighbor to the man who had 
fallen among thieves ? 

And he said, " He who showed him mercy." 

Then said Jesus unto him, " Go, and do thou likewise." 





s&Jf 
P 



1 




BY GEORGE HAHN. 



THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 




BY GEORGE HAHN. 

PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. 



I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, 
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me 
as one of thy hired servants. 
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he 
was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compas- 
sion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 

Luke 15—18, 19,20. 




■-^ 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE PRODIGAL SON. 



PHARISEE, a man of immense wealth and influ- 
ence, made a feast on the Sabbath day, and invited 
Jesus to partake of it. 

This Pharisee did not ask Him out of kind- 
ness. On the contrary, he had a very mean 
motive for wishing Jesus to come to his house. 
He wanted a better chance for him and his friends 
to watch Him, to see if they could find Him 
breaking any of their Sabbath laws. 
They were so anxious to seize Him and persecute Him, 
that they were always looking for some pretext. They consid- 
ered that breaking the Sabbath was one of the most terrible 
crimes. 

A man approached Jesus, who had the dropsy. His body 
was swollen to a great size with the disease, and he suffered 
greatly. 

Jesus was moved to pity. But He knew that the lawyers 
and Pharisees were looking for a chance to censure Him, and 

187 



188 THE PRODIGAL SON. 

He knew, also, that they did not feel in the least sorry for the 
man. He asked them: 

" Is it against the law to heal on the Sabbath day? " 

They held their peace. They knew that there was no sin 
in doing good on any day, but they did not like to see the 
Saviour heal any one, for it was but more testimony to His won- 
drous power and mercy. 

But the Lord Jesus healed the man in spite of them, and 
sent him away rejoicing. He asked them then if any of them 
had an ox or any other animal f 11 into a pit up n the Sabbath 
day, if they would not pull it out? 

Again they kept silent. Their consciences convicted them 
of trying to impute sin to others whfch was no sin. 

He gave them a lesson in humility. 

He observed how they always selected the best seats for 
themselves, and He told them if they were invited to a wedding 
or any other festivities they should not choose the best place, 
test a better man than they were, might be intended by the 
host for that place of honor. He would then have to ask them 
to give way to the honored guest, and take a lower place, and 
that would shame them. 

But they should always sit in the humblest seat when bidden 
to a feast, that the host might ask them to take a higher one; 
and then respect would follow them. 

And He spoke a parable unto those who thought they were 
better than others: 

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Phar- 
isee, and the other a publican. 



THE PRODIGAL SON. ISO 

The Pharisee stood and thanked God he was not wicked 
and greedy, unjust, and full of sin. He even was so self- 
righteous that he stood there and thanked God he was not like 
the publican who stood near. He told the Lord that he fasted 
twice a week, and paid taxes on all he owned. 

But the publican, standing afar off, dared not lift his eyes to 
heaven, but smote upon his breast, and cried humbly: 

" God be merciful to me a sinner! " 

And Jesus said to them: " I tell you this man was heard 
before the other one. 

"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he 
that humbleth himself shall be exalted." 

He loved to teach through parables. Many lessons He con- 
veyed in this way. 

The publicans and sinners were called very wicked. But 
they honestly tried to become better, and so they drew near to 
Jesus to hear His words. 

He often went to their houses, and ate with them. A new 
complaint was now made by the Scribes and Pharisees. He 
visited sinners, *and broke bread with them. 

He told them that beautiful parable about the lost 
sheep. 

" What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one 
of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, 
and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 

"And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, 
rejoicing. 

" And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends 



190 THE PRODIGAL SON. 

and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have 
found my sheep which was lost. 

" I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over 
one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just 
men, who need no repentance." 

He thus showed them that even though the Pharisees did 
not feel glad when they heard of a sinner who had turned to* 
God, there was joy in the presence of the angels. 

He told them about a certain man who had two sons. 

One of them was dutiful and loved his home, and did his- 
daily tasks patiently. 

The younger son was restless, dissatisfied, wished to see 
the world, as he would say, and so he asked his father to give 
him the share of his goods that would fall to him. So his father- 
divided them, and gave the boys their portion. 

Not many days after, the younger boy gathered his alt 
together, and started away into a distant land. 

There he led a very bad life. He did things he knew were 
wrong, and he wasted the money that his kind father had given 
him, and soon he had none left. 

He had nothing to buy food with. Besides, there was a 
great famine in that land, and food was not to be purchased. 

What could he do now? He had to work or else go hun- 
gry. So he went to a native of that country, and asked him if 
he would not give him something to do. He was willing to 
become a servant rather than starve. 

The man hired him to go into the pastures to feed his. 
swine. He began to suffer the pangs of hunger, for, as I said,. 



THE PRODIGAL SON. 19* 

a great famine was abroad in the land. He was glad to take 
some husks and coarse food that belonged to the pigs, and eat 
them. And no man gave him anything better. 

. How cold and miserable he was. Now he had time to 
think of the good home he had left, and how he had abused 
his father's generosity, and he repented of his conduct. 

He thought of the many servants his father had, and com- 
pared his lot with theirs. They had bread enough, and to 
spare, while he was perishing with hunger. 

As he remembered all these things he made a sudden 
resolution : 

""I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him r 
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee ; 

" And am not worthy to be called thy son. Make me as 
one of thy hired servants. . 

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was 
yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, 
and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him." 

Some fathers, even though they saw the penitent son com- 
ing, would have stood up in their dignity and waited for him to- 
come and fall at their feet. But this father was a forgiving 
parent, and as soon as he saw his son coming, even though he 
was in rags, he ran and fell upon his neck, and kissed him. 

So does our heavenly Father meet us. When He sees we 
are repentant, and want to come back to Him, He is ready to 
receive His erring ones with outstretched arms. 

And when this son had confessed to his father his shame 
and sorrow, that forgiving parent said to his servants: 



192 THE PRODIGAL SON. 

" Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a 
ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 

" And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it. And let us eat, 
and be merry. 

" For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, 
and is found." 

And they began to be merry. 

The elder son had been busy all day working in the field, 
and as he came toward the house, he heard the sound of music 
and dancing. And he asked a servant why it was. 

The servant told him that his brother had come, and that 
his father was so happy to have him back safe and well, that 
he had made a great feast. 

Should you not have thought he, too, would have been so 
delighted to see his brother that he would have hastened to 
welcome him back? 

But he was not. He felt very jealous, and would not go 
into the house, to take his brother by the hand. 

His father was hurt at this coldness, and he came out, and 
entreated him to come. He could not feel happy if one of his 
sons kept away from the feast. 

He said to his father, " Lo, I have worked faithfully for thee 
these many years. I have always obeyed you, and done my 
duty. But you never gave me even one little kid, so that I 
might make a feast, and invite my friends. 

" But just as soon as that son comes back, who went away 
from you, and wasted all he had with bad companions, you kill 
for him the finest calf we have." 



THE PRODIGAL SON. 193 

The father's heart was touched at the sons words, and yet 
he knew he had no reason to be angry. 

"Son," he said, " thou art ever with me, and all that I have 
is thine. 

" It was right that we should make merry and be glad; for 
thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and 
is found." 

What did this parable mean? It means that the prodigal 
had done wrong. He had been in danger of losing his soul, but 
as soon as he turned from his evil ways, the father was ready 
to forgive him, and restore him to his rightful place, just as 
your Heavenly Father is always ready to pity and' forgive every 
one who is sorry for his sins, and asks for pardon. 

For remember, there is joy in heaven over one sinner that 
repenteth 




But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, 

to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of 

heaven. 

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him 

ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 

And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, 

have mercy on us. 

Matthew 19—14; Luke 17—12, 13. 




CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



MERCIFUL ACTS. 



matter where Jesus went, He was ever doing 

works of love. He was teaching in a synagogue 

one day, when He saw a poor woman bent 

nearly double. It was impossible for her to stand 

straight. She had been in this sad condition for 

eighteen years. 

He did not wait for her to implore His help, 
but He called her to Him at once, and placing His 
hands upon her poor, bent form, He said : 
" Woman, you are rid of your infirmity." 
And she stood up straight, and her first act was to praise God. 
The ruler of the synagogue showed much anger thereat, 
and forbade the people coming there to be cured on the 
Sabbath day. 'There are six days in which men ought to 
work, and therefore people should come on one of those days." 
" Thou hypocrite !" cried the Saviour. " Does not each one 
of you unfasten his ox or his ass from the stall,- and lead him 
away to water ? 

194 



MERCIFUL ACTS. iyj 

"And why should not this woman, being a daughter of 
Abraham whom Satan hath bound for eighteen years, be loosed 
from this bond on the Sabbath day ?" 

For once His enemies showed a feeling of shame. And 
•every one who heard His answer rejoiced for the glorious 
things that He had done. 

A short time after this, as He passed through Samaria and 
-Galilee, on His way to Jerusalem, as He was going into a cer- 
tain village He met ten lepers. 

You remember the leper He healed before, and how horri- 
ble a disease it is. Also that any one afflicted with it, was com- 
pelled to stand afar off, and call out " Unclean, unclean." 

These lepers did not dare approach Jesus, but they had 
heard of His wonderful kindness, and so they cried out, instead 
•of " Unclean !" "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 

Their appeal for mercy was heard. He told them to go 
show themselves to the priests. They went, and on their way, 
they became cleansed. 

What would you expect them to do? Why, return at once, 
and fall at Jesus' feet and do Him homage. Strange to say, 
they hurried away, and only one of them remembered the 
great debt he owed, and he turned back, and gave voice to his 
gratitude, proclaiming in a loud voice what God had done for him 

Then he prostrated himself at the feet of our Lord, and 
gave Him thanks. 

This man, the only one who showed any thankfulness, was 
a despised Samaritan. He belonged to a people whom the 
Jews especially hated. 



196 MERCIFUL ACTS. 

And Jesus said : "Were there not ten made clean? Where 
are the nine ?" 

And He said to him : " Arise, and go thy way. Thy faith 
hath made thee whole." 

God loves a grateful heart, and willing lips that praise Him. 

And a young man came to Him asking how he could gain 
eternal life ? 

Jesus told him he must keep the commandments. 

The young man told Him he had kept those from his youth 
up. " What more can I do ?" 

Our Saviour told him if he wished to be perfect, to sell all 
that he had and give to the poor. He would then have treas- 
ure in heaven, and would be fit to follow Him. 

But the young man went away with a sad heart, for he was 
very rich and could not bear to give all he had up. 

The Saviour demands a heart to be wholly His. He does 
not want a love for riches, or a pet sin to divide with Him. 

As He taught the people, many mothers brought their 
little babes to Jesus that He might bless them. They wanted 
Him to lay His hands upon them, for they had heard Him 
teach, and they thought they should like to have Him take 
them in His arms, for a benediction would linger round them 
forever. 

The disciples did not feel pleased to see them come with 
their babes to Jesus. They fancied their Master would not 
want to be troubled by a number of little children. 

So they chided these mothers, and were about to send 
them away. 



MERCIFUL ACTS. 197 

How little they knew their Master's tender heart. He 
would not let them be driven away. He called His disciples to 
Him, and said : 

" Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them 
not ; for of such is the kingdom of God." 

And He gave them this to think about : " Verily I say unto 
you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a 
little child, shall in no wise enter therein." 

And He took the babes in His arms, and placed His hand 
upon their heads, and blessed them. 

And He went away after this. 

Very near to Jerusalem was a beautiful little village known 
as Bethany. Here two sisters lived with a brother, and a very 
happy household it was. Martha, the elder sister, was a very 
good woman. She loved the Lord Jesus, and whenever 
He came to Bethany she always welcomed Him to her 
house. 

Martha had a sister, Mary, who also loved Jesus' words. 
She was very happy when He came, for she would sit at His 
feet, and listen to His sayings. Their brother Lazarus also 
loved the Lord. 

Martha was a very busy woman, who always kept her house 
in order, and when Jesus came to see them, she was very 
careful to prepare Him nice food. 

One day when Jesus came, Martha felt particularly anxious 
to prepare something very good for Him. He was her guest, 
and her heart was full of care, for she wanted to wait on Him 
properly, as He deserved. But Mary was not giving her any 



198 MERCIFUL ACTS. 

help, but sat in her favorite place, at Jesus' feet. She was so 
anxious to learn all she could from His beloved lips. 

Martha began to be cross with her sister. She was vexed 
because she did not assist her in her work. 

So she came to Jesus, and asked Him : 

" Lord, do you not care because my sister has left me all 
alone ? Tell her to help me serve." 

Martha knew that Mary was willing to assist her, but she 
was desirous that the food should be cooked nice, and the table 
well set, and she felt a little irritable to think that Mary was not 
taking any interest in such things. 

She wanted Jesus to speak plainly to Mary and tell her 
what her duty was, and then her sister would obey at 
once. 

He knew why Martha spoke so. He saw that her heart 
was full of. love, and that she aimed to give Him the best she 
had. So He spoke to her gently, but He did not give Mary the 
reproof Martha expected He would. He said : 

" Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many 
things. 

" But one thing is needed ; and Mary has chosen that good 
part, which shall not be taken away from her." 

He meant to show Martha that she was busying herself with 
the concerns of this world, while Mary was filling her soul with 
those truths that would make her love God, and be fit for His 
kingdom. 

They were now about to hold the Feast of Dedication. This 
was held in honor of the reconsecration of the temple after its 



MERCIFUL ACTS. 199 

* 

shameful desecration one hundred and sixty-six years before 
Christ. 

Although not participated in by those Jews who lived far 
away, or by the Galileeans, still it was a time of merry-making. 
It was called the Feast of Lights, as they illuminated the city so 
brilliantly during the celebration. 

It was always held in the winter. As Jesus walked in the 
colonnade encircling the Court of the Gentiles, the Jews gath- 
ered round Him, and asked Him to say plainly if He were the 
Christ. 

Jesus answered them : " I told you and you would not 
believe me. The works that I do in my Father's name bear 
witness who I am. 

" But you believe not, because you do not belong to me. 
You are not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and follow 
me. 

" And to them I give eternal life. They shall never perish, 
nor shall any man take them from me. 

" My Father is greater than all. He gave these sheep to 
me ; and no man can pluck them out of my Father's hand. 

" I and my Father are one." 

Oh, how stern the Jews became. They would teach Him 
not to revile and blaspheme in this manner. 

They seized stones again, as they did once before, for the 
purpose of stoning him to death. 

Jesus asked them for which of the good works He had 
done from His Father did they seek to stone Him? 

They said : " We do not seek to stone thee for any good 



200 



MERCIFUL ACTS. 



work you have done, but for your blasphemy in calling yourself 
God, when you are but a man." 

He again declared that He did the works of His Father, and 
that He and His Father were one. 

And again they tried to seize Him, but He escaped from 
them and went away into the place beyond the Jordan where 
John had first baptized, and where He would be safe from 
those who persecuted Him. 




Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Beth- 
any, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud 
voice, Lazarus, come forth. 

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot 
with grave clothes; and his face was bound about with a 
napkin. Jesus sayeth unto them, Loose him, and let him go, 

St. John 11—1,43,44. 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

LAZARUS. 

>N the little town of Bethany, Lazarus, the brother 
of Martha and Mary, lay very ill. . 

What should these loving sisters do first? 
Send word to that Lord on whom they believed. 
He had healed so many, He would not fail to 
restore Lazarus whom He loved so tenderly. 
They sent a messenger to Jesus, saying: 
" Lord, he you love so dearly is sick." 
But Jesus told them this sickness was not 
unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God 
should be glorified also. 

Jesus cared very much for these two sisters and their 
sick brother. But He remained two days in that place, after 
the message came. This seeming indifference to Lazarus' 
peril was designed to make them trust Him more completely. 
He meant to show them a greater miracle than any He had yet 
performed. 

He then said He would go into Judea once more. His dis- 

201 




202 LAZARUS. 

ciples tried to persuade Him not to go there. They urged Him 
not to venture. 

" Master, the Jews so lately sought to stone thee to death, 
why do you go there again? " 

The sisters must have felt that their Master had forsaken 
them in their grief. How they must have longed to see Him. 

But Lazarus died. 

After that Jesus said : "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but 
I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." 

When He spoke so calmly about Lazarus, the disciples 
thought He had reference to that slumber that comes to you 
every night when you lie down upon your beds. So they said : 

" Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well." 

Jesus spoke more plainly then, and said: " Lazarus is dead. 

" And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that 
you may believe. Nevertheless we will go to him." 

The miracle He was about to perform would more firmly 
convince the disciples that He was the Messiah than anything 
that had gone before. 

But they -still felt a sinking of the heart at thought of His 
returning to Bethany where He had been in such danger. 
Thomas said in despair to the others : " Let us go, too, that 
we may die with Him." 

He feared that his Master would be killed, and he was willing 
to die too. 

When Jesus reached Bethany, He found the household full 
of sadness. Lazarus had died, and was buried, and his two 
sisters were grieving sorely. 



LAZARUS. 203 

The house was thronged with kind neighbors, who were 
trying to comfort them in their affliction. Many of the Jews 
were there, doing those kindly offices that such a time of 
sorrow calls forth. 

Martha, who was always active, as soon as she heard that 
Jesus had come to Bethany, went out to meet Him. But Mary 
sat quietly in the house. 

As soon as Martha saw Jesus, she began to lament. She 
thought if He had come when they sent for Him, their brother 
would have lived. She cried: 

"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not 
died." 

Jesus comforted her with these words: 

"Thy brother shall rise again." 

Martha thought He spoke of the day when all shall rise, and 
she answered: 

" I know that He shall rise again in the resurrection, at the 
last day." 

Jesus spoke to her again, and said that He himself was the 
resurrection and the life. That whosoever believed on Him 
should never die. " Believest thou this?" He asked her. 

And Martha said earnestly: " Yes, Lord, I believe that you 
are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the 
world." 

He asked her where Mary was. Martha returned to the 
house, and called her sister secretly, and told her the Master 
had come and wanted to see her. 

Martha knew there were many Jews in the house who had 
4 



204 LAZARUS. 

* 

come to console Mary and herself, and she feared to say openly 
that Jesus was outside, lest He be seized. 

Mary rose quickly, and went out to meet her beloved 
Teacher. 

The Jews who saw her hurry out so suddenly, pitied her 
grief, and they followed at once, so as to say kind words to her, 
for, they said: 

" She is going to the grave to weep there/ 

Lazarus had now been dead four days, and had been placed 
in the grave. 

Mary came to Jesus, and falling at His feet, she uttered the 
same reproach that Martha had spoken: " Lord, if thou hadst 
been here, my brother had not died." 

Jesus saw her weep, and He saw the pitying tears upon the 
faces of the Jews who had followed her from the house, and 
His heart was disturbed. 

" Where have you laid him? " was all he said. 

They answered, " Lord, come and see." 

Jesus wept. 

He could not bear the sight of their anguish. He felt how 
they mourned their dead brother, and how lonely they were 
without him. And the tears flowed down His face. 

Some of the Jews said to each other: "Behold, how He 
loved him!" 

But others said, " Could not this man who opened the eyes 
of the blind, have caused this man not to die? " 

Jesus, groaning in His spirit, came to the grave. 

They had chosen a cave in a hillside for the sepulcher, and 



LAZARUS. 205 

an immense stone was rolled upon the grave. Jesus said: 
" Take away the stone." 

Martha loved her brother, and missed him greatly, but she 
was afraid it would be a dreadful sight to uncover the grave of 
one who had been dead four days, and she said so. 

Jesus saw that she lacked in faith, and He exclaimed: 

" Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldst believe, thou 
shouldst see the glory of God? " 

They rolled away the stone, and Jesus looking up to heaven, 
said: "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me." 

He then cried out in a loud voice, so that every one heard: 

"Lazarus, come forth!" 

What a miracle was this! At once, while all the people were 
standing around, some touched with awe, and some speechless 
with fright, Lazarus, who had been dead four days, rose up, 
with the grave clothes about Him, and the cloth upon his face. 

And Jesus said: " Loose the clothes and let him go." 

There, looking as fresh and healthful as though he had 
never died, stood Lazarus, while his sisters received him in 
their arms. Their dear brother who was dead, was now alive. 
What joy! What gratitude they felt to Jesus. 

And in that hour many believed on the Saviour. None but 
God could work a miracle like this! 

But there were some whose hearts were hard, who still 
hated Jesus, and sought to do Him harm. These went as fast 
as they could to the Pharisees, and told them of this strange 
scene. 

The chief priests and the Pharisees held a council, and 



206 LAZARUS. 

planned to kill Jesus speedily. For they said if they let Him 
live any longer, the whole world would believe on Him, and they 
would lose their place and nation. 

But there was one among them, Caiaphus, who was chief 
priest, who told them plainly they knew nothing at all. 

That it was not necessary that one man should die for the 
nation. But he prophesied that Jesus should die for that 
nation, and not for that nation alone, but that He should gather 
together all the children of God who were scattered abroad. 
And from that day forth they took counsel together to put Him 
to death. 

Their Feast of the Passover was soon to be celebrated, and 
many went up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify them- 
selves, and here they looked diligently for Jesus, that they might 
deliver Him up to death. 

The Saviour could no longer walk among them, so He 
journeyed to a little town called Eohraim, near the wilderness, 
where few people lived. 

Here He staid with His disciples. 




And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were 
come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives then 
sent Jesus two disciples, 

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 
And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them 
their clothes, and they set him thereon. 

Matthew 21—1, 6, 7. 




CHAPTER XL. 



GOING TO JERUSALEM. 



iESUS remained in this quiet spot for a few weeks, 
resting. The time had come for Him to go up 
to Jerusalem. 

He knew that it was His last visit to that city; 
He knew the shameful and cruel death He was to 
suffer there, and yet He did not shrink ; it was 
the will of His Father, and He would not murmur. 
As He walked slowly on before the Twelve, 
He thought of the agony in store for Him. But 
His spirit was ready for the sacrifice. 

And He began to talk to the Twelve who followed on be- 
hind, and to explain to them all that was about to take place. 
He told them of His betrayal into the hands of His foes, how 
they would mock and sneer at Him, how spitefully they would 
use Him. He held up to their gaze the picture of Himself 
beaten and scourged with whips, and spit upon ; and how they 
would at last put Him to death, but that on the third day 
He should rise again 

207 



208 GOING TO JERUSALEM. 

They listened intently to every word, bat they could not 
understand what He meant by rising again on the third day. 

Even now when they should have been thinking only of 
what He was telling them, their selfishness led them to forget 
Him and think only of themselves. 

Two of the disciples, the brothers James and John, the 
sons of Zebedee, came to Him to ask a favor. 

" Master, we wish you would do something for us which 
we desire very much." 

" What would you have me do?" He asked. 

They answered: "Grant that we may sit, one on thy 
right hand, and one on thy left hand, when thou comest in thy 
glory." 

Their weakness and selfishness was known to our Saviour, 
and He made this reply : 

" Can you bear all the suffering that I am to endure?" 

He said : "You may bear sorrow and pain for me, but to 
sit, the one on my left and the one on my right, is not 
mine to give. But those honors shall be given to those for 
whom the Father has prepared them." 

The other ten disciples were quite angry with James and 
John for asking this favor. 

Jesus kept instructing them, and showed them that he who 
would rule must first serve ; in other words, He meant that 
to be truly good and great one must be unselfish and humble ; 
must subdue his own pride, and be willing to help others. 

They approached a town called Jericho. A blind beggar, 
named Bartimeus, sat by the roadside. Though he saw not, 



GOING TO JERUSALEM. 209 

he heard the noise of so many people passing, and he asked what 
was going on. He was told Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 

He called out : " Jesus, thou Son of David have mercy on 
me !" 

Jesus heard his prayer, and commanded that they bring the 
man to Him. They encouraged the blind man, then, although 
before they had told- him to hold his peace. They said : " Be 
of good comfort. Rise, .He calleth thee." 

And he cast away his garment, and rose to his feet, and they 
led him up to Jesus. 

The Saviour asked him what he would like to have Him do 
for him, and he said, " Lord, give me my sight." 

He did not ask Jesus if He could give him his sight, but he 
pleaded that He give it to him — showing unquestioning faith. 

Jesus said : " Go thy way ; thy faith has cured thee." 

And the blind man saw instantly, and he followed Jesus, 
praising Him. And all the people glorified God. 

In this same town lived a very great sinner, who had made 
himself very rich by unfair means. He was a publican, or tax- 
gatherer. This Zacchaeus was very grasping, for he loved 
money. He extorted all he could from the people, and was 
much despised in consequence. Jesus knew all this. 

Zacchaeus was a man without any influence among his fel- 
low men, in spite of his great wealth. He was a man of ex- 
ceeding low stature, so small that he could not see over the 
heads of those who were gathered around Jesus. 

But he had a great curiosity to see this great Prophet, and 
when he heard that He was coming by, he climbed into a syca- 



210 GOING TO JERUSALEM. 

more tree, so as to see that Jesus of whom every one was re- 
peating such wonderful stories. 

He was safely in the tree, never supposing that any one 
would notice him. What was his surprise to hear the voice of 
Jesus, saying : 

" Zacchasus, come down quickly. For to-day I must stay 
at your house." 

He came down as fast as he could, and as soon as he 
reached the ground, he received Him joyfully. He could not 
tell why Jesus should honor him thus, but he took Him home. 

When the people saw that Jesus had gone to the publican's 
house, they began to grumble. They were forever complain- 
ing at everything that Jesus did. 

" He is gone," they said, " to be the- guest of a sinner." 

Zacchaeus began to think of his greed and hoarding up 
of money, and how unfairly most of it was made. And while 
Jesus was at his house, he stood up and said : 

" Lord, I will bestow half of my goods upon the poor. And 
if I have robbed any man by false accounting, I will restore 
what I have taken, fourfold." 

He not only repented of his deeds of evil, but he tried to 
make restitution. The Saviour knew his sincerity. He was so 
glad to have this sinner turn to the right way, that He said : 

"This day has salvation come to this house." 

How different this man was to the young ruler who was not 
willing to give up his riches, as a test of his sincerity. Zac- 
chaeus offered of his own free will to give up everything for 
Jesus. And thus he became an heir to everlasting life. 



And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these 
sayings, he said unto his disciples, 
Ye know that after two days is the Feast of the Passover, 
And the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 

Matthew 26— 1, 2. 




CHAPTER XLI. 



JESUS WARNS THEM. 



J\OW Jesus preached constantly of the hour when 
the kingdom was at hand. He denounced un- 
believers, and warned the proud rulers of the 
destruction of their temple. 

He warned them to be ready, and told them 
that " Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my 
words shall not pass away." 

The coming of the Son of man would be sure 
and sudden. If they were prepared to receive 
Him, all would be well ; but if not, terrible would 
be the punishment. 

And the disciples came to Him privately after He had 
ceased talking in the temple, and asked Him when this destruc- 
tion was to take place. He was on the Mount of Olives, 
weary with the day's labor, when they surrounded Him, and 
asked Him for a sign of His coming, and the end of the world. 
Jesus bade them watch that no man deceived them, for He 
said that many should come in His name, claiming to be Christ. 

211 



212 JESUS WARNS THEM. 

And they should delude many. And that wars and troublous 
times would come, but they must not be shaken. 

Pestilences and famines and earthquakes were to ravage the 
earth ; and nations should quarrel with each other. 

And when these evil days came, the faith of many would 
grow cold. 

But those who endured persecutions and doubts and trials 
to the end, should be saved in everlasting life. 

" Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord 
doth come." 

He admonished them to be like a wise and faithful servant ; 
when the master of the house maketh him ruler over his 
affairs, he knows they will be carefully looked after. And 
not like the servant who takes advantage of his master's 
absence, to abuse the other servants, and waste his goods. 

The lord of that servant shall come home suddenly, and 
punish the unfaithful one severely. 

nd He likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins , who 
took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Five of these virgins were wise, and the other five were 
foolish. 

The foolish ones carried out their lamps, and forgot to see 
that they were filled with oil. 

But the wise virgins carefully looked after their lamps, and 
saw that they were full. 

While they waited for the bridegroom, they all fell ask ep. 

And at midnight they heard a great cry": "Behold the 
bridegroom cometh." 



JESUS WARNS THEM. 213 

And they arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish 
ones asked the wise ones to give them some of their oil. But 
they refused to give them any, but told them to go and buy for 
themselves. 

While they went to buy, the bridegroom came ; and they 
that were ready went in to the feast. And the door was shut. 

When the other virgins returned, they called, " Lord, Lord, 
open the door to us." 

But He said, " I know you not." 

This parable was a thrilling presentation of the necessity for 
us all to prepare for the hour of death. If we live a good life, 
and have our lamps trimmed and burning, when the bride- 
groom, the Son of Man, cometh, we shall be welcomed to the 
marriage feast ; but if we neglect our duties here, and forget to 
care for those truths that we need for our salvation, we shall 
hear the terrible words, — " I know you not." 

The Feast of the Passover had not yet been held. It was 
six days before the day of holding it. Jesus came to Bethany, 
and He went to Martha's house. This was a great joy to them. 
Not only were they rejoiced to see Him, because they loved 
Jesus, but He had called their beloved brother back from the 
grave, and they were deeply grateful. 

It was the Sabbath when He arrived, and they made Him a 
supper in the house of Simon the leper, who had been healed 
by the Lord. A large company was invited. Probably they 
made the feast in Simon's house because it was more spacious 
than their own little home, but Martha waited upon the guests 
herself, while Lazarus occupied a seat at the table with Jesus. 



214 JESUS WARNS THEM. 

The house was thronged with Jews who came to the house 
to see Lazarus. They wanted to see a man who had been 
raised from the dead, and hear Him speak. 

Mary, ever anxious to prove her love for her dear Master, 
took a box of very costly ointment, which she poured over His 
head and feet, and then she wiped his feet as He sat at supper, 
with her long and beautiful hair. The exquisite perfume of 
the ointment was shed all through the house. 

There was one disciple who sat there who was very indig- 
nant at what he considered extravagant waste upon Mary's 
part. This was Judas Iscariot, the traitor, who afterward be- 
trayed Jesus. He muttered : 

" Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, 
and the money given to the poor?" 

He did not care for the poor. But he was a thief, and 
carried the bag which the disciples used to put away their small 
store of money in. He often pilfered from that bag, and his 
only anxiety because the ointment was used in this manner, 
was that, had it been sold for money, he would have had a 
chance to steal some of it. 

Poor timid Mary had not meant to be extravagant, or neg- 
lectful of the poor. She had only desired to show her love for 
the Saviour by anointing Him. 

Jesus saw that she was grieved at being blamed, and He 
turned to Judas when He heard him grumbling, and said sternly: 

"Let her alone. Against the day of my burying hath she 
kept this. The poor you have with you always. But me ye 
have not always." 



JESUS WARNS THEM. 215 

The Jews were still planning how to get Jesus into their 
power. Each day that He lived He was teaching more earnestly, 
and each day saw greater numbers of their people believing 
on Him and becoming His followers. 

Now Satan entered into the heart of Judas. He coveted 
money, and gathered together all he could. A terrible desire 
to accumulate more seized upon him. A thought came to him. 
Perhaps the chief priests would pay him a large sum if he 
would only help them to seize Jesus without the people know- 
ing it, or without creating any disturbance. 

He should have fought the evil suggestion bitterly. Had he 
tried to cast Satan out of his heart, and prayed to God for help, 
he would never have committed that terrible crime. His soul 
would have been made pure. But he made no effort to put 
aside these wicked, covetous thoughts. 

He hurried away from Bethany in the darkness of the 
night, and went up to Jerusalem where he consulted with the 
priests and captains, and asked them what they would pay him 
if he betrayed the Saviour into their hands. 

These foes of Jesus were elated at the chance. They felt 
sure they would be successful, because one of His own disci- 
ples was with them, in their infamous scheme. 

So they made a bargain with him that they would give him 
thirty pieces of silver - nearly twenty dollars. 

Judas was well pleased at the' price they offered, and from 
that time he constantly watched for the coveted opportunity to 
deliver Jesus over to His enemies. 



And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, 

cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is he 

that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city 

was moved, saying, Who is this? 

And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the prophet of 

Nazareth of Galilee. 

Matthew 21—9, 10, 11. 

CHAPTER XLII. 

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. 

;HE day after the supper which the Saviour ate 
with the two sisters and Lazarus at Simon's 
house, He started for Jerusalem, with his disci- 
ples. As He approached the city, he sent two 
of His disciples on ahead, saying: 
"Go ye into the village over there. When 
you enter its streets, you shall find a colt tied, on 
which never man hath sat. Untie him, and bring 
him hither. 

" And if any one asks you why you take the 
colt, you shall say unto him: 'The Lord God has need 
of him.'" 

They went as they were told to, and found the colt fastened 
by a door in a spot where two roads met. 

And as they untied him, some men who were standing 
near, asked: " Why do you loose that colt? " 

" Because our Lord needs the colt," they replied. So the 
men said no more. 

216 




TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. 217 

The roads and byways were full of people who heard that 
Jesus of Nazareth was coming to Jerusalem; and they went out 
in immense numbers to meet him, bearing branches of the 
palm trees in their hands and strewing them like mats along 
the road. 

And they spread their garments on the colt, and placed Jesus 
upon him, while many threw their garments upon the ground, 
and cut down the branches for Jesus to pass over, as they 
shouted with glad voices! "Hosanna to the Son of David! 
Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the 
Lord!" 

And this shout was taken up by all who went before, and 
echoed again by those who followed: " Hosanna! Hosanna in 
the highest." 

The Pharisees, of whom there were many in the crowd of 
people, could not endure to hear them praising Jesus so, and 
they said to Him: 

" Master, rebuke your disciples." 

But He answered that if these men should hold their peace, 
the very stones would cry out. 

They were near the beautiful city of Jerusalem now, and as 
Jesus looked down upon it, he wept over it. 

He saw the devastation which the enemies of Jerusalem 
would work upon its fair proportions, when they should cast a 
trench about it, and hem it in on every side, and not one stone 
should be left upon another. 

He wept because the people of that city would not believe 
on Him, and live. They were full of sin and unbelief. He had 



2 1 8 TRIUMPHAL ENTR Y INTO JER U SALEM. 

taught them so long, and worked out so many miracles, and 
they trusted Him not. He would have gathered His children 
together, as a hen gathereth her chickens, but they would not 
let Him. He knew that God would punish that city, which was 
about to shed the blood of His well-beloved Son. 

He rode into Jerusalem on the colt, and as the people who 
were assembled to celebrate the Passover, saw the procession 
coming up the narrow streets, while thousands looked down 
from the housetops, they wondered what caused so great a 
commotion, and the question ran from lip to lip: 

" Who is this that cometh? " 

And the multitude answered with a mighty shout : " Ho- 
sanna to the Son of David!" Even the children took up the 
. cry, and filled the temple with their praises. 

The chief priests came to Him, and asked Him if He heard 
what they said. 

" Yes," answered Jesus, "have you never read, ' Out of the 
mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? ' : 

But the next morning when He entered the temple He saw 
the same disgraceful scenes which He had witnessed three 
years before. The cattle and sheep, and birds, that were to be 
sacrificed at the coming Feast, were all in the courtyards, 
making God's house discordant with their cries: And there 
too, were the money-changers at their tables. 

Jesus was moved to anger. Once more He drove them from 
the sacred place, upsetting their tables, casting out those who 
bought and sold, as with scorching words He addressed 
them : 



TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. 219 

"My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have 
made it a den of thieves." 

When He had driven out those who profaned the temple, 
the blind and the lame came to Him, and He healed them. 

And while He was in the temple, He saw the rich men cast- 
ing their gifts into the treasury. And a poor widow passed 
Him, and timidly cast in two mites. 

And Jesus was pleased that she had remembered that, 
though she had so little, she could spare some, and He 
said: 

" Of a truth I say unto you that this poor widow has done 
more than all these rich men. 

" For they have given of their abundance, and feel not the 
want of it. But she has, in her poverty, given of her living, 
and needeth it." 

For days Jesus remained in the temple preaching and heal- 
ing. The Pharisees were ever asking Him difficult questions, 
expecting that He would be baffled and unable to reply. But 
He gave them parable after parable which came back upon them- 
selves,, and their hatred of Him grew more fierce. He told 
them of the wicked husbandman and the marriage of the 
king's son. 

The great Sanhedrim sent a party of their men to demand 
of Him his authority for teaching. This Sanhedrim was the 
highest legal and religious court of the nation. His reply was a 
question to them: " Was the baptism of John from heaven or 
of men?" 

They dared not answer as they really thought, for they 



220 TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. 

feared the wrath of the people, who honored John as a prophet. 
So they retired, angry and revengeful. 

The Pharisees and the Sadducees in their turn tried to make 
Him say something which they could complain of, but He met 
them at every point, and conquered them. 

It was now night, and the Saviour went back to Bethany, 
and lodged there. And all the Twelve went with Him, even to 
that wicked Judas, who was trying to invent some plan by 
which he could give Jesus into the hands of the Jews, and thus 
earn the longed-for thirty pieces of silver. 





BY B. PIvCCKHORST. 



CHRIST'S ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM. 










■ «aSa 

m 





ijb*i 



BY H. HOFMANN. 



THE LAST SUPPER. 



And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and 

blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and 

said, Take, eat; this is my body. 

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to 

them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is 

shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Matthew 26—26. 27, 28. 




CHAPTER XLIII. 



THE LAST SUPPER. 



HE days of teaching were drawing to a close. 
Soon the enemies of Jesus would, have Him in 
their power, and He would die upon the cross. 
Two days more He taught in the temple, while 
the chief priests and rulers were seeking dili- 
gently how to take Him. When the first day of 
the Passover came, Jesus said to Peter and John : 
" Go prepare the passover, that we may eat." 
They did not know what to do, for there was 
no house in all Jerusalem which was open to 
them, and they asked Him : 

" Where will you have us prepare it ?" 
He said to them : " Go at once to the city and you will 
meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the 
house which he enters. And when vou see the good man of 
the house, say to him — The Master bids me ask you where the 
guest-chamber is, in which He shall eat the passover with His 
disciples. 

. - 223 



224 THE LAST SUPPER. 

11 He will take you to a large upper room, furnished. There 
make ready." 

They obeyed to the letter His instructions, for they trusted 
Him completely. 

They went, and behold, they met the man with the pitcher, 
and on following him, they asked the master of the house 
where the room was which Jesus had sent them to find. 
, He took them upstairs, to a large room, in which was a iong 
table, with seats arranged round it. And Peter and John pre- 
pared everything for the supper. 

At eventide Jesus came to the house with His twelve disci- 
ples, and they went into the upper room which Jesus had told 
them of, and all sat down. 

This was a solemn meal, for it was the last Jesus would eat 
with His beloved followers, before His death. And as they 
drew round the table He first took the cup of wine in His 
hands and gave thanks over it. And He passed it to His disci- 
ples, saying, " Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I 
say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the 
kingdom of God shall come." 

He told them also : " I have longed to eat this passover 
with you before I suffer." He told them this would be the 
last time He should eat with them. 

And even at this sad announcement, when their hearts 
should have been very humble, there arose a strife among them 
to know which should be considered the greatest. 'They had 
not yet subdued their proud and selfish spirits, and become 
humble as their Lord desired them to be. 



THE LAST SUPPER. 225 

And now Jesus arose from the table, and laying aside the 
white robe He wore, He girded a towel about His waist, and 
pouring water into a basin He began to wash the feet of His 
own disciples. 

In that land it was always the duty of the servants to bathe 
the feet of the guests. They wore sandals, and their feet be- 
came very dusty, and this laving refreshed them. 

But this supper, of which Jesus had partaken, was unat- 
tended by servants. They had waited upon themselves to the 
bread and wine which was set before them. 

Think of Jesus, who was the blessed Lord, doing that act 
which belonged to a servant to do. He humiliated Himself to 
teach them to be humble. They were so astonished and 
ashamed that they could say nothing. 

But when He came to Peter, he protested against it 
" Lord," he said, "dost thou wash my feet ?" 

Jesus said : : 'What I do now, you do not understand, but 
you shall know hereafter." 

Peter said, " Lord, thou shalt never wash my feet." 

But when Jesus said to him, " If I do not wash thee, thou 
dost not belong to me," Peter answered earnestly : 

"Lord, wash my feet, and my hands and head also." 

He was not able to bear the thought of being sent away 
from his Lord. 

Jesus said : " He that is washed, needeth only to have his 
feet washed, for he is clean. And you, my disciples, are clean, 
but not all of you." 

He alluded to their hearts. They had been made clean 



226 THE LAST SUPPER. 

through Jesus' teachings, all save one ; and that was Judas. 
His heart was black and vile. 

After washing their feet, He took the towel from His waist 
and putting on His festive robe, He sat down at the table again. 

" Know you what I have done to you ?" He told them that 
they called Him Lord and Master, and they should wash each 
other's feet as He had washed theirs. "The servant is not 
greater than his Lord, neither He that is sent greater than he 
that sent Him." 

Again they had reason to feel the flush of shame when they 
thought of how jealous they had been of each other, and un- 
mindful of what He taught them daily : 

" He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it 
is that loveth me ; and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my 
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." 

While they were yet at supper, that Last Supper they 
would ever eat together, Jesus was very sad. He must have 
thought of many things, but most of the ingratitude and 
hypocrisy of that disciple who had received the same kind in- 
structions as the rest, and yet who would deliver up his Master 
to death for a few paltry pieces of silver. He was troubled in 
spirit, and He said : 

" Verily, verify I say unto you, that one of you shall betray 
me." 

The disciples were startled at this terrible charge, and each 
looked at the other, as if to ask of whom He spoke. 

One by one they began inquiring, " Lord, is it I ?" 

Jesus gave them no answer. There was one disciple whom 



THE LAST SUPPER. 227 

Jesus loved very dearly ; this one sat next to Him, with his 
head resting on the Saviour's bosom. Peter motioned to him 
to ask the Lord who the guilty one was, for he thought he 
would receive an answer. 

John whispered in a low tone, "Lord, who is it ?" 

Jesus answered in the same low tone, — "He to whom I 
shall give a sop, when I shall have dipped it." 

The Saviour took a piece of bread and dipped it into a dish 
that stood near His plate, and passed the bread to Judas. 

John and Peter then knew who the wicked man was. But 
no one else had heard the Lord's answer. 

After the sop was handed him, Satan took entire possession 
of Judas, and Jesus said to him : :< That thou doest, do 
quickly." 

Not one of those who heard these words knew their mean- 
ing. Some of them no doubt fancied that the Saviour had told 
him to go and buy something for the poor, or something that 
they needed at the feast ; for you know that Judas carried the 
bag of money that belonged to them in common. 

Judas rose and left the room, no doubt glad that the tinx 
had so soon come. It was night, and as he hurried along the 
dark streets, on his way to the priests and Scribes, he must 
have been a most miserable man. 

Then Jesus took the bread and blessed it, and broke it, and 
gave it to the disciples, saying : " Take, eat ; this is my 
body." 

And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He 
gave it to them also, and pouring out the wine, they all drank 



228 THE LAST SUPPER. 

of it. He said : "This is my blood, which is shed for you. 
Drink this in remembrance of me." 

The Last Supper! He wanted to teach them by those 
symbols, that as the bread had been broken, and the wine 
poured out, so would His body be broken, and His blood spilled 
for them, and for all men. 

They sang a hymn, then they left the house, and went out 
into the streets, toward the Mount of Olives. 

Jesus talked tenderly to them. He said, " It is written, I 
will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. You 
will all leave me to-night. I shall be taken, and you will be left 
alone." 

Peter said : "Lord, / will not leave you. I will go with 
you anywhere. I will lay down my life for your sake." 

Jesus knew that Peter was in earnest. He also knew that 
he was weak, and would not be so steadfast under trial as he 
imagined. And He said : . < 

" I say unto you, that this day, even in this night, before the 
cock crow twice, you will' deny me thrice." 

Peter could not believe himself so wicked, and he spoke 
with still greater earnestness : 

" If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise." 
And they all said the same. 

Jesus now began to say His parting words. He knew how 
soon He would be gone, and He tried to comfort them. 

" Let not your hearts be troubled. Ye believe in God, be- 
lieve also in me. 

" In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not 



THE LAST SUPPER. 



229 



so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for 
you. 

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, 
and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be 
also." 

And He gave them a new commandment : " That ye love 
one another. As I have loved you, so love you one another." 

Then, while these loving words fell on their ears, He prayed 
for those disciples who had clung to Him, and labored with 
Him, and suffered persecution for Him. He prayed that they 
might be kept from evil, and made, strong to do good works. 

And while He prayed that they might be sanctified, He also 
sent up a petition for all who would believe : 

" Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which 
shall believe on me through their word." ■ 




Then cometh Jesus- with them unto a place called 
Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, 
While I go and pray yonder. 

Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, 
even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and 
prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup 
pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 

Matthew 26-36, 38, 39. 

CHAPTER XLIV. 

GETHSEMANE. 

>HEN the little band of disciples, with their dear 

Master, left Jerusalem the night of the Passover, 

they crossed the brook of Kedron, and passed 

on into a beautiful garden not far from the city, 

called Gethsemane. 

Jesus loved to visit this spot. . It was quiet, 
and the noise of the busy people in the city did 
not reach it. 

Judas knew where it was, for he had often 
been there with the rest of the Twelve, and he was pleased at 
the opportunity he had of leading the men whom the priests 
had furnished him, to the spot. 

As soon as the feast was over, the guards who were to help 
Judas seize the Saviour, hurried to their task. They would not 
leave the feast even for so important an object. They must 
first observe that, and then they were ready to kill. 

When the Saviour went into the garden, He went a short 
distance from His little band of disciples, and knelt in prayer. 

230 




GETHSEMANE. 23 1 

He said to them as He withdrew from them: "Sit here, 
while I pray." 

He called Peter, and James and John to accompany Him. 
He felt sorrowful and sore distressed. He said: 

" My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death. Wait here, 
and watch." 

And He went on a little farther, and fell on His face, praying. 
This was His prayer to His Father in heaven: 

" If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, 
not what 1 will, but what Thou wilt." 

He was bearing the burden of man's sins. They weighed 
heavy on Him; no one could help Him bear them. In His own 
precious person He was to suffer for us, upon the cross. 

And though He endured such agony, yet He was ready, if it 
were God's will, to pass through anything, death itself, for us. 

He walked back to where He had left Peter, and James and 
John, and He found them asleep! He woke them, and re- 
proached them gently: 

" Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst thou not watch with me 
one hour? 

" Watch ye and pray, lest ye fall into temptation." 

Again He went a little way from them, and prayed to God 
for help in His trial. 

He returned, and once more found them wrapped in slum- 
ber. Their eyes were heavy with sleep, and they did not know 
what to say for themselves. 

Now He saw that these, His dearest friends, could not share 
His sorrow. He was entirely alone. 



232 GETHSEMANE. 

But an angel came to Him, and strengthened Him. " And 
being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat 
was as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground." 

He left the disciples sleeping, and went away again and 
prayed. His agony was intense. He prayed with all His power, 
and the anguish of His spirit was great. These drops of blood 
came out upon His face, and fell to the earth. But again He 
ended His petition to Heaven with the words: 

" Not My will, O Lord, but Thine be done! " 

Rising from His knees, He sought His disciples, and finding 
them still sleeping, He woke them with the words: 

" The hour has come. Behold, the Son of man is betrayed 
into the hands of sinners. Rise up. Let us go! For he that 
betray eth me, is at hand." 

And now a great crowd of fierce-looking men, armed with 
sticks and swords and carrying flaming torches, poured into 
that garden which had but a little while before been so still and 
peaceful. 

Judas had promised these men a token by which they 
would know Jesus. And this token was a kiss. 

" Whomsoever," he said, " I shall kiss, that same is He. Take 
Him and lead Him away speedily and safely." 

As soon as Judas had stepped into the garden, he ran up to 
Jesus, and crying, "Master! Master!" he kissed Him. 

Jesus asked calmly: " Judas, do you betray the Son of man 
with a kiss?" 

He walked toward the people who were pressing upon Him, 
and asked: 



GETHSEMANE. 233 

" For whom are you looking? " 

And they said: "For Jesus of Nazareth." 

He answered: " I am He." 

As soon as He uttered these simple words, the guards re- 
treated backward in a body, and fell to the ground. 

And once more He asked them for whom they were come. 

They said: " For Jesus of Nazareth." 
" I have told you that I am He. Take me, and let my disci- 
ples go in safety, that the saying might be fulfilled, which He 
spake, Of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none." 

Simon Peter had a sword, and suddenly drawing it, he cut off 
the right ear of a servant of the high priest, whose name was 
Malchus. 

Jesus said to Peter: " Put up thy sword, in the sheath. I 
could have thousands of angels to protect me if I wished them. 
But no, the cup which my Father hath prepared for me, of that 
will I drink." 

And reaching forth His hand. He touched the man's bleeding 
ear, and healed it. Even to the last His works were works of 
mercy and peace. 

Jesus turned to the rabble, and said: 

" Are you come out as against a thief, with swords and with 
staves to take him? 

" I was daily with you in the temple, teaching, and you did 
not take me. But all this is done, that the scriptures of the 
prophets might be fulfilled." 

In that hour of supreme wretchedness and desolation, what 
did the disciples? 



234 



GETHSEMANE. 



They forsook the Son of man. They fled from Him, and 
left Him in the hands of His enemies. Peter, who was so ready 
to die with Him, John, whom He loved most of all, and all the 
rest, ran away! 

Those who had followed the Saviour so long, had secretly 
hoped that a band of angels would appear and interpose to save 
Him from the wrath of the crowd. 

But no band of angels or other messenger from God, came 
to rescue Him, and the disciples fled, fearful that they, too, 
would fall victims to the hatred of the Jews. 

Now He was in their hands. Now the soldiers bound Him 
with ropes, and led Him back to the city of Jerusalem. 




Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel 

came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what 

Thou sayest. 

And after awhile came unto him they that stood by, 

and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy . 

speech betrayeth thee. 

Matthew 26—69, 72, 73 

CHAPTER XLV. 

PETER DENIES HIS MASTER. 

iT was far into the night when Jesus was laid hold 
of in the Garden. But late as it was, they led 
Him to Annas, the father-in-law of the high 
priest. Annas was a very old man, and very 
haughty, and he sent them to the palace of 
Caiaphas, the high priest, with their prisoner. 

The Great Sanhedrim would assemble here as 

soon as they could be called together, and they 

would sit in judgment upon Jesus. 

The palace was full of elders and Scribes, and priests. They 

knew that He was to be brought to them that night, and they 

were waiting for Him. 

There was a great commotion outside, and then the sol- 
diers tramped in, bringing Jesus, whose hands were tied be- 
hind His back. They had faithfully carried out Judas' hint- 
had bound Him fast. 

A shout of triumph went up from the crowd, for they were 
very glad to have Him in their power. This was a very differ- 

235 




236 PETER DENIES HIS MASTER. 

ent shout from that which went up from the crowds which 
followed Him when He rode into Jerusalem but a few days be- 
fore. Those were hosannas of praise and victory ; these were 
sounds of scorn and rage. 

The chief priests began at once to question Him. They 
wanted to find witnesses among His accusers, who would give 
such testimony that they would have an excuse for putting 
Him to death. Many had borne false witness against Him, and 
had told lies, but these witnesses could never agree. 

But there came two, men whose hardest thing they could 
say was, that He had pronounced Himself able to destroy the 
temple, and to build it in three days. But this was blasphemy 
in their eyes. 

Caiaphas was the same priest who had thought it expedient 
that one man should die for the people, And he began to in- 
quire more particularly of Jesus as to what He had done. He 
asked Him what He had taught, and what His disciples had 
taught. 

Jesus said : " I spoke openly to the world. I taught 
ever in the synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews 
always went, and could hear me. I never said a word in secret. 

" Why do you ask me ? Rather ask those who heard me, 
what I said unto them. They know well all that I have said." 

One of the officers of the high priest who heard Jesus' 
answer, struck him a rough blow with the palm of His hand, 
and said : 

" Do you answer the high priest in this manner?" 

Jesus answered meekly : " If I have spoken wrongly, tell 



PETER DENIES HIS MASTER. 237 

me so. But if I have not spoken wrongly, why do you strike 
me?" 

The disciples had all left Him, you remember, but John and 
Peter were conscience-stricken and ashamed. They were 
desirous of knowing what had become of their Master, and they 
followed afar off. 

John was acquainted with the high priest, and he went into 
the palace without being questioned. But Peter stood at the 
door without, until John spoke to the doorkeeper, and she ad- 
mitted him also. 

It was a cold, frosty night, and a fire was kindled in the hall, 
so that they might be warm. Peter quietly seated himself 
among the servants and soldiers who were clustered about the 
fire, but he spoke to none of them. He did not want to be 
recognized. 

As he sat there, looking very unhappy, a servant maid who 
passed him, looked at him very intently, and said : " Are you 
not one of those men who are called the disciples of Jesus ?" 

Peter spoke a terrible falsehood. He was afraid to tell the 
truth, and he said : 

" Woman, I do not know Him." 

He must have felt frightened at his own wickedness, for he 
went out of the door. 

But after a little while another servant saw him, and said 
quite positively : 

" I am sure you were with Jesus." 

And Peter spoke quite angrily, saying : " I do not know 
the man !" 



238 PETER DENIES HIS MASTER. 

Then he went back to the fire, and sat down to warm him- 
self. In about an hour a man who was looking at him, said : 
"Of a truth, this fellow was also with Jesus in the garden. He 
is a Galileean." 

Peter was in a great rage now. He began to use bad, ugly 
words, and again he said : " I do not know what you mean. I 
tell you I do not know the man !" 

At that moment he heard the cock crow loudly. 

And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter. And Peter 
remembered the words of the Lord, how He had said unto 
him, " Before the cock crow twice thou shalt deny me 
thrice." 

When Peter saw that look of sad reproach and love upon 
the holy face of his Master, his own heart came near to break- 
ing. He repented at once. The words of Jesus sounded in 
his ears. He recalled them in shame and bitterness now. 

Peter's repentance was sincere and lasting. His heart bled 
to think he had been so mean and cowardly, and ungrateful, as 
to deny his Master. And he went out into that garden and 
knelt down, and wept bitterly. 

The men who held Jesus mocked Him, and after they had 
blindfolded Him, they struck Him repeatedly in the face, and 
asked Him, saying : 

" Can you not prophesy who it is that smites thee ?" 

And they spoke many wicked things to Him. 

The high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus : 
"Art thou Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 

Jesus said : " I am. You shall see the Son of man sitting 



PETER DENIES HIS MASTER. 2>y 

on the right hand of God, and coming in the clouds, with the 
angels." 

The high priest was satisfied. He had heard these words 
from Jesus' own lips, and now he rent his clothes, and said : 
" We do not need any further witnesses. You have heard this 
blasphemy. What shall we do with Him?" 

And they cried out with one voice : " Let Him die ! He 
should be killed !" 

" So Jesus was condemned to be guilty of death." 




And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews ? 
And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. 
And the chief priests accused him of many things; but 
he answered nothing. 

And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou 
nothing ? behold how many things they witness against thee, 
But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled. 

Mark 15—2,3,4, 5. 

CHAPTER XLVI. 

JESUS BEFORE PILATE. 

LL that long and dreary night Jesus was tor- 
mented by the rough men about Him. They 
called Him vile names, they struck Him and 
spit upon Him, and yet He answered them not. 
The ropes that bound His hands were drawn 
tightly together. 

Jesus endured this ill treatment patiently, 

throughout that night when His enemies at last 

had Him in their power. 

They dared not do any more than maltreat Him, until they 

had brought Him before the governor to be examined. Pontius 

Pilate had not risen, and they had to wait until he entered the 

judgment hall ere they could bring Jesus to Him. 

So as soon as it was morning, they took Him to Pilate's 
house, but here a new difficulty arose. If they entered the 
Hall of Judgment they would be defiled, and could not partake 
of the feast that day. So Pilate yielded to their scruples so far 
as to go out to those wealthy and important citizens. 

240 




JESUS BEFORE PILATE. 241 

" What accusation do you bring against this man? " he asked 
them indifferently. 

They answered that if He were not a criminal they would 
not have brought Him to Pilate to be sentenced. 

"Then," said Pilate, "take Him yourselves, and judge Him 
according to your law." 

M It is not lawful for us to put any man to death," they 
retorted. 

Pilate saw at once that they wanted to kill Him, but they 
meant to put the blame of His death upon him. But how 
could he condemn Him when he could not see that He had 
broken any law? 

Pilate went back to the judgment hall, and when he saw his 
holy face he could not find it in his heart to accuse Him of 
wrong. When he had asked Jesus many questions, and learned 
with what patience He had borne the insults of the populace, 
he could find no fault in Him, and he told the waiting crowd 
that he could not. Their angry reply was: 

" He calleth Himself Christ, a king, and He deserves to die ! " 

Pilate was more surprised than ever. 

" If this man calls himself a king," he reasoned, " how is it 
that He suffers such indignities? " For the marks of their 
blows were upon His face. And he asked of Jesus: 

" Art Thou the king of the Jews? " 

Jesus answered: " My kingdom is not of this world." He 
also told him that He was born a king and that He came into 
the world to bear witness to the truth. Every one who was 
true could hear His voice. 



242 JESUS BEFORE PILATE. 

"What is truth?" Pilate asked mockingly. He had not 
found it among either Romans or Jews-. He felt friendly 
toward Jesus, and half willing to give Him His freedom. 
He went out again, in front of his palace. As soon as Pilate 
appeared the rabble were silent. They waited to hear what he 
would do with Jesus. 

" I find no fault in Him at all! " he said. 

The people began to make a great clamor. They were dis- 
appointed and angry at the result. The chief priests were most 
bitter against Him. 

" He stirs up the people, " they said, "teaching throughout 
all Jewry, from Galilee to this place." 

Pilate was glad of a chance to be rid of the odium of con- 
demning an innocent man, and He asked them if Jesus were a 
Galileean. 

And he sent him at once to Herod, for if Jesus belonged in 
Galilee He came under Herod's jurisdiction. 

Herod and Pilate had not been friends for some time, but 
now Pilate wished to be at peace with him, and he thought that 
as Herod had come to Jerusalem to the Passover, he would pay 
him the compliment of sending Jesus to him to be judged, and 
thus he would not have to decide in the case. 

Herod was very much pleased, for he wished to see the 
famous prophet who had done so many miracles. But when 
Jesus was brought before Herod, whose face He had never 
looked upon before, although the Scribes and Pharisees accused 
Him violently, He would not speak a word. Not a question 
would He answer, though He had answered Pilate's 



JESUS BEFORE PILATE. 243 

Herod dared not condemn Him to death on such trifling 
charges, for he knew he had made the people very angry by 
slaying John the Baptist in prison. 

But Herod was mean as well as wicked, and he mocked 
Jesus, and to make Him look more ridiculous, he ordered a 
gorgeous robe put on Him, as if He were an earthly king, and 
sent Him back to Pilate. 

Pilate felt very sorry. He liked Jesus, for he felt He had 
done no sin. So he thought he would try once more to save 
Him. So he called the people and his chief priests together, 
and told them all that they had brought this man to him as one 
that misled and deceived' the people, and he had questioned 
Him closely, and could find no fault in Him. He had done 
nothing to deserve death. ' No, nor neither could Herod," he 
said. " I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go." 

It was the custom at this feast for the governor to liberate 
one prisoner after scourging him. There was a very bad man 
lying in prison, named Barabbas. He was a thief and murderer. 
The chief priests said to Pilate: ' Release unto us Barabbas." 

Pilate was still trying to save Jesus from a dreadful death, 
and he said to them: 

" Would you not rather that I release unto you the King of 
the Jews?" 

For he knew that the chief priests had delivered our Lord 
through envy. 

The crowd of people shouted: "Crucify Him! Crucify 
Him!" 

Pilate pleaded to know what evil He had done. 



244 JESUS BEFORE PILATE. 

The mob were hoarse with shouting: "Crucify Him! Cru- 
cify Him!" 

Pilate must have even then hoped that the punishment of 
scourging would have satisfied their rage, for he gave Christ up 
to the soldiers to be scourged. 

This was a terrible punishment. It was done with knotted 
ropes, and the stripes were given upon the back. The pain these 
blows caused was so intense that many a man died under them. 

Then the soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put a reed 
into His hand for a scepter. He was still wearing the purple 
robes which Herod had ordered for Him, when he sent Him back 
to Pilate. And then He was brought forth for the mob to see. 

" Behold the man! " said Pilate. 

Jesus stood there in all His kingly majesty, the same who 
had healed the lame, and the blind, and the deaf; the same Jesus 
to whom they had listened gladly not long ago. And yet at sight 
of Him a mad shout arose: " Away with Him! crucify Him! ' 

Pilate dared no longer hesitate. He feared the wrath of the 
people, and yet he knew Jesus had done nothing to deserve 
death. His wife had just sent a message to Him: 

" Have nothing to do with condemning that just man, for I 
have suffered much this day in a dream, because of Him." 
But he said to them: 

" Take you Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." 

The Jews replied: 

" By our law He must die, for He calls Himself the Son 
of God!" 

Pilate did not wish to make light of an ancient law; going 



JESUS BEFORE PIL4TE. 245 

back, Jesus was brought once more before him into the judg- 
ment hall, and Pilate asked: 

"Where do you come from?' 

The Saviour remained silent. Pilate was indignant, and 
said : 

" Do you not know that I can either crucify you or let you 
go free?" 

Jesus said : ' You can have* no power over me unless it 
were given you by God. He who delivered me up to you has 
the greater sin." 

Pilate made another effort to release Him. But the people 
cried : 

- If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Who- 
soever makes himself a king, speaks against Caesar." 

They knew that would seal His doom. Pilate set his judg- 
ment seat on the pavement outside the Hall of Judgment. 
Jesus came forth, and He said, pointing to him : 

" Behold your King !" 

A loud cry of hate went up from the crowd. " What, shall 
I crucify your king ?" he asked. 

u We have no king but Caesar," said the chief priests. 

Seeing he could not persuade those who were determined 
on shedding Christ's blood, Pilate took some water, and washed 
his hands in the presence of the multitude. 

* I am innocent of the blood of this good man," he said. 
"See to it yourselves." 

" His blood be upon us, and upon our children," was the 
reply of the people. 



Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw 
that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again 
the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 
saying,. I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent 
blood. And they said, What is that to us ? see thou to that. 
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and 
departed, and went and hanged himself. 

Matthew 27—3, 4, 5. 

CHAPTER XLVII. 

JUDAS DIES. 

>HAT became of Judas? For thirty pieces of 

silver he had betrayed his Master into the hands 

of the Jews. And now Jesus was condemned 

to die a shameful death. Judas had helped to 

this death. Was he happy? 

No. When he found that his greediness had 

placed the Saviour so completely in the power of. 

\ * His foes, that nothing could save Him from their 

\ malice, Judas repented bitterly. Alas, remorse 

came too late. He could not undo what he had done, and his 

repentance did no good. The deed was done, and he must 

suffer from an awakened conscience. 

The money for which he had done this horrible sin was of 
no benefit to him. He had hoarded it, but in doing so, the 
devil had won him into his service. Do you believe he was a 
desirable master? Was he loving, gentle and self -forgetting, as 
was the meek and lowly Jesus? 

No, Satan is a hard and cruel master. He delights to tor- 

246 




JUDAS DIES. 247 

ment and mislead those whom he can gain the mastery over, 
and enjoys seeing their despair and misery. 

As soon as Judas heard that the Saviour was to die, the 
money became hateful to him. He wished that he had died, 
before he led the rough soldiers into the garden, to take the Lord. 

What to do with the money he did not know. He could 
not bear the sight of it. It weighed his soul down like lead. 
He dared not keep it. A thought came to him. He would go 
to the chief priests and elders, and confess his guilt and re- 
morse. Perhaps they would take pity on him, and give him 
some advice. So he went and confessed thus : 

" I have sinned deeply. I have betrayed the blood of the 
innocent." 

Do you suppose he hoped they would listen to his plea, 
and perhaps when he told them Jesus was innocent of any 
wrong, they would set Him free? 

Ah, if he thought this, he did not know those cruel, heart- 
less hypocrites. They were wolves. The innocent lamb was 
in their clutches, and they would never release it until they had 
shed its blood. 

They scarcely listened to Judas, for they had no pity for 
him. Jn fact, they really despised him for playing the traitor. 
He had been useful to them, and they had paid him his price. 
They wanted no more to do with him. 

When they would not say one word of sympathy to Judas, 
the silver pieces were so horrible in his sight that he dashed 
them angrily down upon the floor, and rushed out of the 
temple. 



^o JUUAS Ulbb. 

"And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, 
It is not lawful for us to put them in the treasury, because they 
are the price of blood." 

And they consulted together, and concluded to buy a piece 
of ground which lay south of Jerusalem, and said it would be 
a proper burial place for unknown strangers, paupers and 
criminals. 

" Wherefore the field was called the Field of Blood." But 
people now call it " The Potter's Field." 

Thus one of the prophecies of Jeremiah was fulfilled, when 
he said : 

" And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him 
that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value. 
And gave them for the potter's field." 

Would you not have thought Judas would have gone to the 
Master whom he had betrayed, and groveled in the dust, be- 
seeching His forgiveness? He had often heard that gentle 
voice saying : 

" Those who come to Me, I will in no wise cast out." And 
He had given this promise to the weary and heavy-laden : 

"Come unto Me, all ye who are heavy-laden, and I will 
give you rest." 

Although Judas was borne down with the weight of his 
sins, and self-contempt, still, much as he regretted his evil • 
deeds, he did not love Jesus ; indeed, he never had felt affec- 
tion for Him, as the other disciples had, and so he kept away 
from Him. 

You remember the Saviour once said that Judas was a devil. 



JUDAS DIES. 249 

So he would not go and ask His pardon. He had sinned griev- 
ously, but he could do nothing now but hate himself. 

When he fled in despair from the temple, he meant to add 
another sin to those he had already committed. He meant to 
take his own life ; that life he could not give, and which be- 
longed only to his Maker. 

He got a rope, and going into a field, he saw a tree stand- 
ing there. Climbing up into this tree, he fastened one end of 
the rope round a branch, and the other end he placed tightly 
about his neck. 

Then springing headlong down from the tree, he was left 
hanging. 

Thus ended the life of the traitor. He could not ask God's 
pardon now. He died as he had lived, wicked and unforgiven, 
and no pardon could reach him. He had gone to that place 
prepared for the devil and his spirits 




And when they were come to the place which is called 

Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one 

on the right hand, and the other on the left. 

Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know 

not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also 

with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save 

himself if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 

Luke 23— 33, 34, 35. 

CHAPTER XLVIII. 

CALVARY. 

>0 at last the malice of the foes of Jesus was 
gratified. Now He would be killed, that He no 
more would confuse and shame the unrighteous 
Pharisees. 

Pilate had given Him up to the Jews. He 
knew that He was free from sin, he had said so 
repeatedly, and yet he would allow Him to be 
murdered. 

There was no time lost after they had gained 
permission to put Jesus to death, but they hur- 
ried Him away to Calvary, just beyond the city walls, not far 
from the palace of Pilate. 

They stripped Him first of the purple robe which they had 
given Him to mock Him, and put His own robes upon Him 
again. "And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and 
smote Him on the head." 

Two thieves were to be crucified at the same hour. And 
wh had to carry his own cross to the place of crucifixion. 

250 




CALVARY. 251 

The cross was very heavy, and the Saviour was weak with grief 
and watching. Only the night before He had partaken of that 
Last Supper with His little band. Then think of the sufferings 
He endured in the garden when the drops of sweat turned to 
blood. All night the enemies of Jesus had tortured Him, 
while He was kept standing before them. In the morning 
Pilate had ordered that dreadful punishment of scourging. 
Neither food nor drink had entered His lips since the Supper 
with His disciples. Do you think it strange that He had not 
strength enough to carry that heavy cross? 

When He sank to the ground, bowed down with its weight, 
they took a man who had come from the country, Simon of 
Cyrene, and he was told to bear the cross for Jesus. 

Among the vast throng who followed Him to Calvary, were 
scores of women, weeping and lamenting. They were about 
to lose their kind Teacher, and when He sank on the ground, 
their cries and tears burst forth with added strength. 

Jesus heard them mourning, and He said : 

" Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves, and for 
your children. For the days are coming when such troubles 
will come to this city that you will wish you were not born." 

Jesus knew that God would send a fearful punishment 
upon that wicked place. 

They had now reached Calvary. Here the soldiers removed 
the Saviour's clothes, and laying the cross upon the ground, 
they straightened out His arms, and drove large nails through 
His hands to secure Him to the cross. Then they fastened 
His feet in a similar manner. They now raised the cross, and 



252 CALYAR.Y. 

fixed one end of it firmly into a hole which had been dug 
for it. 

The soldiers, of whom there were four, whose duty it was 
to watch under the cross until the person nailed upon it was 
dead, now divided the raiment belonging to the Saviour and the 
two thieves, each taking equal share. 

In that moment, when Christ felt the anguish of being 
nailed upon the cross, He cried : 

" Father, forgive them ; they know not what they do." 

It was the custom to write upon the cross the name of the 
criminals, and what their crime had been. So Pilate, knowing 
Jesus had done no wrong, and to the very last saying so, sent 
word that this title should be placed over his head : 

"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." 

And it was written in Hebrew, and in Greek, and in Latin, 
that all men might read it. 

This offended the chief priests. They wanted it changed 
to—" He said, I am the King of the Jews." 

But Pilate was firm. He would not change it, and so it 
remained. 

All the people stood watching Jesus. The chief priests and 
elders laughed and mocked at Him, bidding Him thus : 

"He saved others. Let Him save Himself and come down 
from the cross, if He is the Son of God." 

Even one of the thieves derided Him, saying — "If you are 
the Messiah, save yourself and us." 

The other thief shamed this man. He said : 

"Do you not fear God too much to speak so to this man 



CALVARY. 253 

when He has done nothing to deserve this death ? We are 
getting the just reward of our sins " 

And he said to Jesus, " Lord, remember me when thou 
comest into thy kingdom." 

Jesus said unto him, "To-day shalt thou be with me in 
Paradise." 

The soldiers were among the most malignant of those who 
jeered at His anguish. They had offered Him a drink of vine- 
gar which was usually given to those who suffered this cruel 
death. But Jesus would not partake of it. So He saw the 
angry faces of the people as they passed to and fro along the 
highway, and heard them revile Him as they said : "Ah, thou 
that destroyest the temple !" 

A very sorrowful group stood near the Saviour's cross. His 
beloved mother was there, and three other women. John, 
who was so dear to Jesus, was also there. Mary's soul was 
now pierced as with a sword, as Simeon had told her, when 
Jesus was a tiny babe, that it would be. 

Jesus loved His mother. Even in that hour of deep agony. 
His eyes rested tenderly upon her. John, the youngest dis- 
ciple, stood near her, and Jesus said to her : " Woman, behold 
your son !" 

And to John He said : " Behold thy mother !" 

She looked up to Him, and in that agonized and loving look, 
she bade Him farewell. 

And John led her away from the cross to his own home. 

Three, hours the Saviour had been hanging on that cross. 
Then a strange thing happened. The skies had been blue and 



254 CALVARY. 

cloudless. But suddenly an awful blackness spread over the 
face of the land. . 

A dread fell upon the people. Their voices became silent. 
Even the chief priests shared the fear, and stole away from the 
scene. 

Three hours of darkness, and Jesus bore them in silence. 
A mysterious feeling of loneliness must have crept over Him, 
not a doubt, but a lonely, heart-breaking sorrow. He could 
bear it no longer. Then He broke into a cry of entreaty : 

" My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me !" 

He was still bearing the burden of our sins as He had done 
in the garden. God had not forsaken Him. But Jesus cried 
out to Him with all His soul. 

He now began to feel thirsty. His throat was parched and 
dry. He said, " I thirst." 

One of the soldiers pitied Him, and filling a sponge with 
vinegar, lifted it to His mouth. But the rest said : 

"Let Him be. Let us see if Elias will come -to save and 
take Him down." 

Once more Jesus was heard. He cried out with a loud 
voice : 

"It is finished!" 

Saying this, He died. 

At the moment when He died, an earthquake shook the 
city of Jerusalem. The earth shook and trembled, and the 
rocks split in two. The veil of the temple, which hid the holy 
place from the holiest of holies, was rent in two from top to 
bottom. 



CALVARY. 255 

Those who were gathered on Calvary, rushed to the city, 
smiting their breasts in terror. The centurion who had been 
set to watch over the soldiers, was struck with fear, and cried 
out : 

" Truly this was the Son of God." 

The next day was the Sabbath, and the Jews wanted those 
who were on the crosses to be taken down, because they did 
not want their bodies hanging on the Sabbath day. The sol- 
diers who were sent on their errand, had orders to break their 
legs, so they would die more quickly. But the thieves were 
not dead, so they hastened their deaths in this manner. But 
Jesus was already dead. To make themselves certain of this, 
one of them pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water 
flowed from the wound, and ran down on the ground. 

A rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, who loved Jesus very 
much, had often thought he would become a disciple of His, 
but he was afraid of the wrath of the Jews. 

But he was now no longer afraid to show his love, and so 
he went to Pilate and begged that he might have the body of 
Jesus, and bury it in a tomb which he had made in his own 
garden. 

Pilate was not sure that the Saviour was dead, but calling 
the centurion who had testified that Jesus was the Son of God, 
he asked him if He were really dead, and when he learned that 
He was, he told Joseph that he might take away the body. 

When he returned to Calvary, Nicodemus went with him, 
bearing sweet spices. Joseph and Nicodemus tenderly took 
down the Saviour's body, and wrapping it up in fine white 



256 CALVARY. 

linen, in whose folds the spices* were laid, they bore Him away, 
and placed His sacred body in the tomb in Joseph's garden, 
in which no man had ever been buried. Then they all re- 
turned to the city, Joseph, and Nicodemus, and the women 
from Galilee, and Mary Cleophas and Mary Magdalene, to pre- 
pare the spices and ointments for enbalming Jesus' body as 
soon as the Sabbath was over. 

The foes of Christ had not expected this burial of their 
victim. They would have thrown His body in a common grave 
where the malefactors who had died this shameful death were 
thrown. But when they found that Joseph had taken away 
His body, they went to Pilate, and said to him : 

"Sir, that deceiving man said that after three days He 
would rise again. < Command, we pray you, that the sepulcher 
be made fast until the third day, for fear His disciples come at 
night and steal Him away, so they can say to the people, He is 
risen, and thus they will deceive them worse than before." 

To satisfy the priests, Pilate said : " You have a watch. Go 
and make the grave as secure as you please." 

This watch consisted of Roman soldiers, and these made 
the sepulcher sure, by sealing the stone which was placed 
over the mouth of the tomb, and then the priests went their 
way. 

So the Saviour had given up His life to save the world. 
When He cried in a loud voice, " It is finished !" He meant His 
work of saving sinners was done. He had borne their sins, and 
now He had redeemed them, and His labors were over, 
forever. 



When the even was come, there came a rich man of 

Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple; 

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it 

in a clean linen cloth, 

And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn 

out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of 

the sepulchre, and departed. 

Matthew 27—57, 59, 60. 




CHAPTER XLIX. 



THE SEPULCHER. 



HOSE women who had loved Jesus so much, 

staid near the place till they saw Him laid in the 

tomb, and the stone was rolled against the door. 

Then they went home to prepare the spices and 

ointments for anointing His body. 

One of these women was Mary Magdalene. 
The Saviour had cast out evil spirits from her and 
had put His own holy Spirit in their place, and she 
felt that her gratitude had not shown itself nearly 
as much as she wished it had. 
On the Sabbath day they had to cease work and rest, for 
so the commandment bade them. 

But on the morning of the next day, even while it was yet 
quite dark, Mary Magdalene and the other women rose to go 
to the sepulcher. But as they walked together, they were 
troubled, for they said: 

" Who shall roll away that great stone from the grave? We 
cannot do it, for it is very heavy." 

257 



258 THE SEPULCHER. 

But as they came to the grave, they found the stone had 
been moved, and the grave was open! 

Jesus was not there. How did this happen? 

In the night while the soldiers guarded the tomb, to see that 
the disciples did not return, there came a great shock, and an 
angel whose face was as the flame of the lightning, came down 
from the dark heavens, and the earth shook beneath their feet. 
He rolled away the stone, and they fell on the ground, flat on 
their faces, like dead men. 

Jesus had told His disciples he would rise on the third day. 

When the women found the grave empty, they thought His 
body had been stolen by His enemies in the night. 

"Then Mary runneth, and came to Simon Peter and the 
other disciples whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them: They 
have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know 
not where they have laid Him." 

Peter and John listened to Mary Magdalene in terror. They 
could not believe it could be so. So they ran as fast as they 
could, and Mary Magdalene followed on behind. 

John came first to the grave. And stooping down and look- 
ing in, he saw the linen clothes that had bound the Saviour's 
body lying neatly folded up, as was also the napkin, but that 
lay in a place by itself. 

But Peter was not content to look into the grave. He must 
go in, and all he saw was the napkin and the grave clothes. 

John then went in, and now he remembered that Jesus had 
said He would rise again, and he saw, and believed. 

And the two disciples returned to their home. 



THE SEPULCHER. 259 

When Mary Magdalene had hurried away to tell Peter and 
John this sad disappearance of the body, Mary Cleophas and 
Salome had staid by the grave. They entered it, and were 
alarmed at seeing an angel sitting on the right side. 

" Fear not," this angel said. " 1 know that you have come 
to see Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; He is risen. 
And go quickly and tell the disciples and Peter that He goeth 
before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him as he said 
unto you." 

The women fled from the sepulcher trembling with fear, 
but they hastened to tell the rest of the disciples. 

But Mary could not leave the place. She stood outside the 
sepulcher weeping bitterly. She was alone, and as she wept, 
she stooped down and looked in as John had done. 

But lo! the grave was no longer empty. Two angels 
sat, one at the head, and one at the feet, where Jesus had 
lain, bending over the spot as if they still were guarding 
Him. 

The angels said to her: " Why do you weep! " 

She was so unhappy that she did not feel frightened, and 
she replied: 

" They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where 
they have laid Him." 

And she turned back, and saw Jesus standing there, but she 
did not know who it was. 

Jesus asked her: 'Why do you weep so? For whom 
are you looking? " 

She was so blinded with her tears that she did not look up, 



260 THE SEPULCHER. 

else would she have known Him. She thought it was the gar- 
dener who asked her the question, and she said: 

" Sir, if you have taken Him from here, tell me where you 
have laid Him, and I will take Him away." 

Jesus spoke her name: " Mary ! " 

Oh, the joy of hearing that familiar voice. She turned with 
passionate love, and answered: " O my Master ! " 

She sprang toward Him to touch Him, but" He said, 
solemnly: 

" Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. 
But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend to my 
Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God." 

Jesus also showed Himself to Mary Cleophas and to Salome, 
and sent the same message to His brethren. He still called 
His disciples His brothers. Though they had forsaken Him in 
His hour of need, yet He forgave them. 

So they all went and told the disciples, and gave them the 
message. But the disciples doubted even yet that they had 
seen Him. There was only one who thought they were not 
mistaken, and that was John. He believed that Jesus had risen 
from the dead. 




And behold, two of them went that same day to a 
village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about 
threescore furlongs. 

And they talked together of all these things which had 
happened. 

And it came to pass, that while they communed together 
and reasoned, Jesus, himself, drew near, and went with them. 

Luke 24— 13, 14, 15. 

CHAPTER L. 

THE WALK TO EMMAUS. 

•HAT a glorious day that was when the Saviour 
rose from the dead! But after He had risen, 
though He was always with His disciples, they 
could not see Him. 
He was the same Jesus, loving, holy and for- 
giving. He still bore a human body, but it was 
no longer weak, and He could never suffer pain 
again. He could never again know hunger and 
thirst. Earthly wants were not known to Him, 
now. But He could eat and drink, though He did not need 
food to nourish Him. 

But Jesus loved His creatures just as tenderly as ever. He 
will love them to all eternity. He is unchangeable. When He 
took upon Himself the form of man, His heart was full of love. 
In His immortal body, the same love glows. 

Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week — our 
Sunday. He showed Himself to Mary Magdalene and to the 
women of Galilee. They had told His message as He had bid 

261 




262 THE WALK TO EMMAUS. 

them do, and yet they were not believed. None of the Apostles 
had been blessed with a sight of Him as yet. 

That same day, two men who were good men, were walk- 
ing along the dusty road that led to the village of Emmaus; 
this village lay not quite eight miles east of Jerusalem. 

These men were disciples of Jesus — probably belonged to 
the Seventy whom He had sent out, two by two, to heal and 
talk to the people. They had been standing with the crowd 
when the Galileean women came and told of seeing the two 
angels at the sepulcher. They had heard the many remarks 
made by different persons, and they had gone with Peter to 
the grave when he went a second time. 

But now it was time to go to their own homes, and as they 
walked slowly along, in the heat of the afternoon sun, they 
talked of all that had happened in the past few days. 

They were very sad, and spoke of the death of the Master 
whom they honored. So many events had crowded, one upon 
the other, that they could scarcely realize it all. They did not 
know He was alive again. 

As they journeyed on, a stranger going in the same direc- 
tion, joined them. Their eyes were not opened, so that they 
could know it was their Lord who was walking with them, and 
who asked them why they were so sorrowful at the feast time. 

And one of them, whose name was Cleophas, asked in 
wonder: 

"Are you a stranger in Jerusalem, that you have not heard 
of the dreadful things which have taken place in the city 
these days ? " 



THE WALK TO EMMAUS. 263 

And He said' " What things ? " 

Then they related to Him the sad story: 

"About Jesus of Nazareth, who was a mighty prophet, and 
did wonderful things, and spoke comforting words, telling the 
people about God. But the chief priests and rulers have cruci- 
fied Him. We thought He was our Messiah, but He could not 
have been, else He would not have suffered death. But a very 
strange thing is, some women came to us this morning, and 
said they had been to the grave, and His body was taken away. 
But they had seen a vision of angels, who told them to go and 
tell His disciples that He was alive." 

"0 foolish men ! " answered the Lord, "and slow to under- 
stand what the Scriptures have told you of the Messiah ! It was 
necessary that Christ should die, and afterward enter into 
His glory." 

They were well read in the writings of Moses and the 
prophets. And yet He explained them as they had never heard 
them explained before, and they listened with delight The 
walk to Emmaus seemed almost too short. They would have 
liked to hear Him talk for hours. They wondered who this 
stranger was, whom they loved already ? 

They had reached Emmaus now, and He seemed to be going 
on beyond the village. But they could not bear to part with 
Him, and so they begged Him not to leave them. 

" Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is nearly 
gone." 

So He went in to stay, as they hoped, through the night. 
How glad they were! 



264 THE WALK TO EMMAUS. 

And they busied themselves in preparing the meal. And 
when the supper was ready, and they had gathered round the 
table, they gave their guest the seat of honor. 

And then what happened ? Why, Jesus took the bread and 
blessed it and broke it, just as He used to do, in the old days. 

And then their eyes were opened, and they knew Him— 
knew that this indeed, was their own dear Master! 

And while they looked at Him, and would gladly have spoken 
their joy, He vanished from their sight. 

And they said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn 
within us, while He talked with us by the way, and explained to 
us the Scriptures ? " 

And they rose up and returned to Jerusalem, thinking noth- 
ing of the long walk in the darkness, when they had such news 
to tell the Apostles and the mother of Christ; the joyful news 
that they had seen and talked with their Lord. 




And after eight days again his disciples were within, 

and Thomas with them : then came Jesus, the door being 

shut, and stood in their midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 

Then said he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and 

behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it 

into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. 

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord 

and my God. 

John 20—26, 27, 28. 

CHAPTER LI. 

JESUS SHOWS HIS WOUNDS. 

N that same happy Easter day, ten of the Apos- 
tles, with many of the disciples, sat in a large 
room, in a house in Jerusalem, with the doors 
locked, for they feared the Pharisees. 

They were talking over the events of the 

past few hours. They could not come to any 

conclusion as to what had become of Jesus' 

body. Had it been stolen by the soldiers, and 

tossed into a common grave ? 

But there was the story the women had told of seeing their 

Lord. But even Peter, who had also seen Him, was not sure 

that it was not a spirit, rather than his Master. 

While they were talking in a very agitated manner about it, 
the two friends came in — Cleophas and the friend who had 
been instructed by the Saviour that afternoon. As soon as 
they entered the room they were greeted by the cry : 

" The Lord is risen indeed. He hath appeared to 
Simon." 

265 




266 JESUS SHOWS HIS WOUNDS. 

"And we have seen Him also," they answered. "We have 
seen Him and talked with Him." 

And they repeated the whole story. How the Lord had 
walked by their side on their way to Emmaus ; how He had 
told them more about the Scriptures than they had ever known. 
They told the listening disciples that until He broke the bread 
with them, they knew not who He was. 

The little group who sat there, scarcely believed Cleophas 
and his companion. They still doubted, when quietly, with not a 
sound, the doors being still locked, they saw Jesus in their midst. 

" Peace be unto you !" His gentle voice was heard, but 
those disciples were every one of them afraid ! They thought 
they looked upon a spirit. Not one of them dared stretch 
forth their hand to touch Him, or speak to Him. 

He saw their fear, and gently He reproached them. 

" Why are you troubled ?" He asked. " And why do doubts 
arise in your hearts ?" 

But they only gazed at Him in awe. 

" Behold my hands and feet," He said. " It is I myself. 
Handle me and see. A spirit has not flesh and bones, as you 
see I have." 

And He held out His hands and showed them His feet, in 
which the prints of the cruel nails were plainly to be seen. 
There was no longer any doubt of it. But they were now too 
full of joy to be calm. And to soothe them, He asked them if 
they could give Him something to eat ? 

" And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and some 
honeycomb." 



JESUS SHOWS HIS WOUNDS. 267 

And He took it from their hands, and ate, that they might 
know He was not a spirit. 

Then were the disciples indeed glad, for they knew it was 
the Lord. * 

" And Jesus said to them again, Peace be unto you. As 
my Father has sent Me, so I send you to teach others. 

" And He breathed on them, and said : Receive ye the 
Holy Ghost." 

He imparted more of His Spirit to them, that they might 
be more fit to do the work which He had taught them to do. 

And so that happy day was ended. 

The chief priests continually asserted that the disciples had 
stolen the body of the Saviour. But though the disciples staid 
in Jerusalem during the feast, and the Sabbath following, still 
the rulers made no attempt to bring them to judgment. They 
knew that they were speaking falsely, but they did not want 
the people to believe that He had risen on the third day as He 
had promised. 

Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus 
appeared to them and showed His wounds, and when they told 
him of it, he doubted and declared : 

" Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and 
put my finger in the print of the nails, an4 put my hand into 
the hole in His side, I will not believe." 

He loved his Lord, but he could not believe he should see 
Him again, and he would not be consoled. 

Eight days had passed, and the disciples had not seen their 
Master. Again were they gathered in this room, with the 



268 ^ JESUS SHOWS HIS WOUNDS. 

doors shut and locked, and this time Thomas was with them. 

Jesus suddenly stood among them, and said : 

" Peace be unto you 1" 

He said to Thomas, " Reach forth your finger, and put it 
into my hands. And stretch forth your hand and put it into 
my side. Do not be faithless, but believe." 

Thomas doubted no longer. His unbelief melted at once. 
He was so glad and thankful, so happy to see Jesus, that he 
exclaimed eagerly : 

" My Lord and my God." 

Jesus knew his doubts were forever set at rest, and yet He 
wished to show him how little faith he had shown, and He 
said : 

"Thomas, you believe because you have seen me. Blessed 
are they who have not seen, and yet have believed." 

That blessing is for all who trust Him and love Him, and do 
His works—" whom not having seen, we love." 

And now the Twelve Disciples went back to their old home 
where they were fishermen so long ago. Why did they turn 
their steps to Lake Gennesareth ? 

Because Jesus had promised to meet them in Galilee, where 
He had lived and taught. 

Now they were waiting for Him. But they were poor, and 
had to work, so they began to fish again. 

Peter was the one who first suggested it to them. On his 
return from Jerusalem one evening, he said : 

" I am going to fish." 

They were all willing, and they entered a boat and started 



JESUS SHOWS HIS WOUNDS. 269 

out upon the lake at eventide. But after trying all night to 
catch some fish, the morning came, and found their nets 
empty ! 

In the morning they saw Jesus standing on the shore, and 
they did not know Him. He called out to them : 

" Have you caught any fish?" 

They answered, " Not one." 

He said to them, " Cast your net on the right side of the 
boat, and you shall find them." 

Then they tossed the net out on the right side, and the fish 
were so plentiful they could not draw it up. Then a miracle 
like that came to their minds, one that had been done so long 
ago, and they knew who had directed them ! 

John was the first to know Him: "It is the Lord!" he 
said. 

When Peter heard that, he threw himself into the water, 
and swam to shore. The others followed after him in the 
boat, dragging the net. And when they counted the fishes, 
there were one hundred and fifty-three. 

When they reached the shore, a fire was burning on the 
land near the edge of the water, and fishes and bread were laid 
thereon. 

Jesus had prepared them for His disciples. He knew they 
were wet and cold and hungry. And He said to them : 

" Come and dine." 

Not one of them dared ask Him who He was. They knew 
that it was the Lord. 

The meal was ready, and they were again at their old home, 



270 JESUS SHOJVS HIS WOUNDS. 

on the lake. And Jesus took the bread and blessing it, broke 
it. They ate, and were filled. They ate in reverent silence. 

When the meal was over, Jesus said to Peter : 

" Do you love me more than the rest do?" 

Peter answered, " Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." 

Jesus said unto him : "Feed my lambs." 

He meant, tell all who love me and would come into my 
kingdom, about me. 

And a second time He asked : " Peter, do you love me ?" 

Peter said, " Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." 

Again He said : " Feed -my sheep." 

That meant tell all that hear you, what they shall do to gain 
the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus asked him the third time : " Peter, lovest thou me ?" 

Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him so many times 
the same question, and he said : " Lord, all things are known 
to thee. You know I love you." 

Jesus said : " Feed my beloved sheep." 

He then told Peter of the death he would die, and Peter 
listened humbly. The Saviour asked Peter three times if he 
loved Him, because he had three times denied Him, and He 
wanted to see him humble and contrite. 

Then Jesus said to him : " When you were young you 
could go about where you pleased. But when you are old, you 
will stretch out your hands, and another shall lead you where 
you do not wish to go." 

He meant that Peter was to be crucified. But Peter never 
again denied his Master, but suffered gladly for His sake. 



JESUS SHOWS HIS WOUNDS. 271 

He said to Peter : " Follow me." He meant follow Him 
in His works, but Peter thought He meant it literally, and he 
started after Jesus. 

But Jesus withdrew from His disciples. 

This was the third time that the Saviour showed Himself 
to them after He had risen from the dead. 

But remember, that He is ever with those who seek to 
know Him. His promise is : 

" Where two or three are gathered together in my name, 
there am I in the midst of them." 




And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he 
lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was 
parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 

Luke 24— 51, 52. 



CHAPTER LII. 

THE ASCENSION. 

iHE story of our Lord Jesus is almost done. He 
was on earth but forty days after He rose from 
the dead. 

During those forty days He gave proofs that 
He was alive, which no one could doubt. He ate 
and drank with the disciples. They laid their 
hands upon His sacred person, and knew He was 
not a spirit. He taught them many truths con- 
cerning the kingdom of heaven, which He wished 
them to teach to others. 
He had promised them: 
" I will see you again, and your hearts shall rejoice. And your 
joy no man taketh from you." 

His promise He had fulfilled. The joy of His resurrection 
had made their hearts rejoice, and no mortal power could rob 
them of that joy. 

But the time was very near when Jesus would leave His 
message with them, and go to His Father. 

272 




THE ASCENSION. 273 

No one saw Jesus after His resurrection save those who 
were faithful to Him. His enemies saw Him not. He would 
not show Himself to them. But there were many who saw 
Him, for there were many who loved Him. 

Jesus had told His disciples to go to Galilee, and that He 
would meet them there. And He showed Himself to the Apos- 
tles when they were fishing in the Lake of Gennesareth. 

But a larger number were to have actual proofs of His res- 
urrection. When in Galilee, before His death, He had told the 
disciples that He would appear to them after He had risen from 
the dead, on a mountain where they could all see and recog- 
nize Him. 

What a happy assemblage that must have been! How 
eagerly they hurried to the spot to see their dear Lord. And 
not the Apostles alone were there, but more than five hundred 
people flocked hither; men, women and children, climbed that 
steep mountain side to see their risen Lord. No one who could 
be there was absent, for He had promised to meet them in His 
own person — not a spirit not an illusion, but their own dear 
Lord Himself. Some few even yet doubted, but the most of 
them worshiped Him. 

Jesus came and spoke to them. He said to them, so all could 
hear: 

" All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

'" Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them as I 
have done, and teach them as I have taught you. 

" For lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the 
world." 



274 THE ASCENSION. 

So each disciple was sent to be the bearer of good 
tidings. 

They were to begin their mission at Jerusalem, that city 
where He had suffered so — the city where He had gone 
triumphantly on, while the people waved the palm branches, 
and sang "Hosanna to the Son of David;" the same city that 
He had wept over, while foretelling its doom; that city where 
He had been mocked, and jeered, and spit upon, ere they cru- 
cified Him. 

And Jesus led them out for a last walk before He left them. 
And He led them out as far as Bethany, on the Mount of 
Olives. 

And as they went, He told them what they must do. They 
would have the Holy Spirit poured down upon them, and after 
that they were to preach the Gospel everywhere. 

" Begin at Jerusalem," He said. 

And they, thinking His reign would begin in that beautiful 
city, asked Him: 

"Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to 
Israel?" ' 

And He told them it was not for them to know the times 
or the seasons which the Father had kept in His own power. 

But He told them they should receive the Holy Spirit and 
become witnesses to His name, not only in Jerusalem, but in 
all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of 
the earth. 

And this is one of the comforting messages He left for the 
Apostles to deliver unto the people: 



THE ASCENSION. 275 

" Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If any man hear 
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to Him, and will sup 
with Him, and He with me." 

Blessed promise. Open your hearts, dear children, and He 
will dwell with you, and become your guest, and gladden life 
for you forever. 

Now past the places He had loved so well, Jesus led His 
disciples to a more solitary spot on the mountain side. And 
after He had spoken these things to them, lifting up His 
pierced hands, He blessed them. But while He blessed them, 
a cloud came down and overshadowed them, and He was taken 
up into the cloud, and, surrounded by bands of angels, He 
passed from their sight. 

And while they still looked steadfastly toward heaven, as He 
went up, two angels stood by them, clothed in white. These 
angels spoke: 

"Ye men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into 
heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into 
heaven, will come again some day in the same manner." 

Then they returned to Jerusalem, along that well-known 
road, rejoicing, and praising God, and the disciples, with Mary 
and the other women, continued praying, and going up often to 
the temple to praise God. 



And now the beautiful story of Jesus is told ! How lovely 
was His life, and how you must love Him, and wish to be 
like Him. 

Little children, Jesus when on earth loved you very dearly. 



276 



THE ASCENSION. 



Then love Him in return, and give Him your hearts now when 
they are fresh and free from sin, that you may grow like unto 
Him as the years pass on. 

Love Him, then, and seek to do His will. He will always 
help you when you ask Him. 

And now, hoping that His blessing may rest upon each one 
of you, and that you may become His little lambs, the author 
prays that you may be His forever. Amen. 




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